JustDad.Blog

Let me just share two songs that have been having a profound impact on my faith lately. (see videos below)

1. The Lords Prayer (It’s Yours) – by Matt Maher

2. Talking to Jesus- by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music

I find it difficult to do this very thing… talk to Jesus. To pray. Even though it is the very thing that brings me life.

Jesus once said

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭TLV‬‬

I am literally dependent on His words….entirely dependent. This passage, especially in context, rightly points to the Bible.

That being said I believe it is more than that. The Greek word here for WORD here is:

ῥῆμα or transliterated: rhēma (pronounced Ray-ma)

It’s meaning and most frequent usage in the Bible is this: that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word (taken from Thayer Greek Lexicon)

I won’t belabor the point…. But I believe it would be helpful for Americans and western believers to translate Matthew 4:4 this way:

Humans do not live on bread alone, but in EVERY little thing that God speaks.

We need to hear Gods voice. Jesus said all his sheep hear his voice (See John 10:1-16)

And we need to talk back… we need to seek Him!

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While I was writing these words my son Asher walked in to my office. He probably came in because he needed something from me (a diaper change)… I could smell it as he walked in…

“Hi Daddy!”

“Hi Asher!“ I took my ear bud out of my ear and tusseled his hair, giving him a hug.

As I logged back into my computer he looked at my profile picture and declared: “Daddy, it’s you Daddy!

Then he went on to tell me why he was there: “Poopy, Daddy!”

So of course I changed his diaper

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This story reminds me of the Prayer we traditionally call the Lord’s Prayer (which can be found in Matthew 6:9-13, if you aren’t familiar: see bottom of page)

Whether you want to see the request for a diaper change as an analogy for giving us our daily bread or for forgiveness … it reminds me that God desires the same kind of relationship with us, that I have with my son.

This isn’t just an analogy either…as one of my favorite speakers is known to say:

“God doesn’t just act like a Father.. He is a Father” Allen Hood (pulled from an instagram video on ALLENSHOOD)

Allen goes on to highlight the fact: the Father and the Son have eternally been Father and Son since before time began.

Our relationship with him is an extension of this intimate relationship that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share.

In addition, as God is prone to remind me… He is a better Father than I could ever imagine being. I sometimes try to “out father” God to remind myself that I never could. Every time I do, or ask Him for blessing he answers my prayer in his own way and he reminds me again and again of this truth:

“Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

So may you be reminded today that God doesn’t just act like a Dad. He is a Dad. He loves being a Dad. He wants to be your Dad!

I love being His son.

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“The Lord’s Prayer”

““Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy*. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
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Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭HCSB

** meaning of holy: set apart, sacred