In every relationship in our lives, we have designations for what someone means to us. We have words, titles, that reinforce to anyone who hears them, and even ourselves, the role that person has in our lives. I am a father. That means that I have children I am trying to provide for, protect, and equip for personal growth in all aspects of their lives by my teaching and example. I also have a wife. That means I have someone to tell me how to drive, how to cook, what volume I should watch TV at, that I am spending too much time on video games, etc. Back to a serious tone, I have a wife. That means I have someone who has committed to a relationship with me. She vowed before God that she would be loyal to me and care about me through richer or poorer, sickness or health, and so on. There is a beautiful thing that happens in our minds when we use a title to describe someone. It emphasizes and reinforces in our minds what we can expect in the relationship.
How do you address God? Let me say, I am not saying there is only one acceptable way to address God. I am saying, that maybe we should consider some of the best ways to address Him so that we can understand what the relationship with Him is and should be.
So, who is God to you? God serves a role in all our lives. He is the Creator. He is God. He is the Judge in the End. He is the Author of our instruction (the Bible) and our salvation. He is Everything. All of these are fitting but I want to be personal. Who is He to you? On an individual level how should we (or how does God) see His role in our lives?
1. God is a Provider. He has given us all things through His act of Creation but He also Created with us in mind. Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”.
2. God is a Protector. He protects us from ourselves and from false doctrine by giving us instruction and a Savior. 2 Thess. 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one”.
3. God is Presiding. God is the one who has every right to dictate the consequences we will face for our lives on earth, and He will do it. Rom. 14:12, “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God”.
(I will expand on these in future writings)
God loves us enough to provide for us, protect us, and to be clear about the consequences we receive if we do or do not listen to Him. What does that sound like to you? He is our Father. Let’s love Him accordingly.