One time I was praying, “Father, why can’t I perceive you as my Father? Why do you seem distant to me?” He answered me with this passage.
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
You see, I had spent my life NOT loving my enemies, despising all who despised me, speaking evil of those who did me wrong, etc. The verbiage is interesting here, “Your reward will be great. You will be sons of the Most High… if you are merciful just as your Father is merciful.” Only as we abide IN the Son, Jesus Christ, will we do this, because it is HIM in us doing it… making us truly sons of the Most High. Peter wrote:
“For even to this were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously” (1Pe 2:21-23 KJ2000).
We “follow in His steps” by walking IN Christ and not in our old adamic nature. The cross, always the cross is the door from one life to the other. We must embrace His cross in our lives. Only as we walk IN the Son, in His sufferings and rejections, yet in His love do we know God as our Father. “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Part 2 can be read at https://awildernessvoice.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/that-you-might-be-children-of-your-father-2/
A Wilderness Voice 
Hi Michael
This was written with a heart that has been humbled through many suffering. Yes, my friend, only He can love those around us that is totally unlovable in our sight. In Him is always the secret!
Mia
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AMEN Michael, this is a present truth because that is exactly what God has been wisphering to my ears as i found myself among some “difficult” people who tend to see me as their enemy. But Father is teaching me Agape in the midts of these…it is a fact that whenever you find yourself in such situations, it is always a call to come up higher to the mountain of LOVE…sons and daughters of the Father dont keep enemies yet others may have them as enemies, but agape must always prevail because the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts….thanks for the supply of the Spirit through you Michael…agape
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Truly He is a Father to the fatherless! In my emptiness and abandonment, I turned to my Heavenly Father to fill the gaping hole in my spirit. All the yearning and aching for unconditional love was fulfilled when He adopted me. I finally belonged to someone who really cared for my welfare. I turn to Him constantly and He answers with tender loving guidance. He clears the path before me and orders each and every day, providing my every need. I couldn’t count how many times He has rescued me and worked the difficulties of my life out for my good.
I love my Father and it is my heart’s desire to be like Him! What an incredible privilege it is to know Him and understand that He is a God full of lovingkindness, mercy, justice and righteousness! I honor and respect His principles. Even though I could never measure up to those lofty standards, He has graciously provided the completeness of these things through my awesome Saviour and brother…Jesus. Praise God for the Holy Spirit given to us to work, mold and shape us into a masterpiece totally of His doing.
You see, when we are a part of God’s family, He is concerned with EVERY facet of our affairs. We belong to Him, and nothing or nobody can pluck us out of His devoted and loving hands!!
Thanks Michael for posting this!
Mike
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Mike, thanks for sharing your heart and life with us. In knowing you personally for so many years as I have, I know that these are not just empty words. You have displayed His love even when reviled against over and over.
On a personal note: We just had an 85 year old brother in Christ come through here from Canada and spend a couple of days with us. He will be driving down to Yuma and going right through your town. I was sure tempted to smuggle myself on board his van and jump off there on the way through.
I miss you, my brother,
Michael
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You are a great man of faith my brother! To be willing to smuggle yourself aboard the craft of an 85 year old captain. He must be one spunky brother!! 😉 We shall meet face to face again as the Lord gives us opportunity. Thanks my brother!!
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Q: “Father, why can’t I perceive you as my Father? Why do you seem distant to me?”
A: “Maybe, the following excerpt could be helpful in answering such a question, too…?” 😉
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“Well, now I knew Jesus and the Holy Spirit whom I felt day and night in my mind, soul, and body. A few days later, I was again awake in bed long after midnight. I was praying most of the time, i.e. talking with Jesus, as suddenly the childhood question popped up in my mind.
“Who are you then, my God, the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?”
I was really confused since I couldn’t solve this riddle by myself. Only a few seconds later, I heard a beautiful voice that I had never heard before. Jesus wonderful voice I knew, but this one was different.
“I am God, Susanne.”
I couldn’t help weeping for a long time. The Father’s gentle voice, even calling me by my own name, convinced me immediately of the fact that I am His child. From that time on, there were no more empty prayers to the Father in my life any more. He also became “my Daddy” for I never heard anything other than words of the deepest love imaginable. God is really love and light. There is nothing we need to fear when we approach Him in prayer.”
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Quotes taken from http://blogforthelordjesus.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/jesus-gives-us-a-whole-new-way-of-thinking-about-life/#comments
Blessings,
Susanne
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Susanne,
What a wonderful story. I had an encounter like this once in prayer in about 1979. I heard Jesus say to me, “Michael, I have someone I want you to meet, my Father.” I said back, “But Jesus, if I meet and communicate with Him, what will happen to you? Won’t you lose your place in my life?” To this He answered, “It is for this purpose that I exist!”
But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, restore, establish, strengthen, settle you.
(1 Peter 5:10 KJ2000)
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be restored, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
(2 Corinthians 13:11 KJ2000)
“Be restored…” This is why Jesus came, to restore all things to His Father. Adam before the fall walked with the Father and was part of what the the Father was doing in His creation. They were Father and son (see Luke 3:38) and he was about the the Father’s business. Jesus came 2000 years ago to live out this very life that was lost before men as “the Last Adam.” (see 1 Cor. 15:45) He showed us the way of restoration… of what true salvation is all about. May we not only walk on this earth as the Son of God did, but also live as the Father’s sons and daughters, living unto and IN Him alone. Amen.
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[…] Part one by the same name can be read at https://awildernessvoice.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/that-you-might-be-children-of-your-father/ […]
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