For a big part of my life, I have pictured God as this dictator like figure who is in complete control of His followers. I pictured God as a being who always takes away the things people enjoy and gives them difficult tasks to endure. I thought He done this as a test of their love for Him.
However, my idea of God has changed dramatically over the last few years. Instead of seeing God as a dictator, I now see Him as a father. Since I have a great father and I have been a father for four years, I can relate to the emotions, feelings, and responsibilities tied to fatherhood.
I now understand that God does not tell us to quit doing things to test our love, he tells us to quit doing things because he realizes that if we continue to do them, they will cause us problems in the future. I understand that He is God and knows if we love Him or not. Although He has this knowledge, I believe He likes us to tell Him that we love Him. I have no doubts that my son loves me, but I cannot explain how it makes me feel when he runs up without being asked and throws his arms around me and tells me that he loves me.
In Zephaniah chapter three it says The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Never forget if we are saved, He is our Father. He rejoices over us when we do right. He quiets us with hislove. God, our Father, sings over His children.
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