The Father Loves You By Pete BriscoeSample

Day 16

From Facts to Faith

It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. —Mark Twain

With revelation comes responsibility. With knowledge comes opportunity. That’s certainly the case when it comes to God as our perfect Father. We can learn all the basic facts about God the Father easily enough. But are we willing to allow the Holy Spirit to live through us in such a way that those facts become faith?

The city of Jerusalem didn’t make that transition from fact to faith. Though the prophets came time and time again, the people of Jerusalem still chose to live independently of God.

Woe to the city of oppressors,
rebellious and defiled!
She obeys no one,
she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the LORD,
she does not draw near to her God. (Zephaniah 3: 1-2)

Ouch. What a waste! Knowing the truth about God is like a huge invitation to an incredible festival. Open that invitation and it says:

Hey you! Come feast with Me! Come rest in Me! Come as you are and just be with Me! RSVP ASAP, God.

Ask God, right now, to focus your heart on just one of His attributes—the one fact that He wants you to transfer into faith today:

• He’s around
• He’s comforting
• He distinguishes
• He provides
• He’s pleased
• He’s interested
• He’s compassionate
• He’s gracious
• He’s patient
• He’s praiseworthy
• He’s faithful
• He’s forgiving
• He’s just
• He’s loving

Father, take this one truth about who You are and conform my life to it. I rest in You now. I stop my own efforts. I ask that, in Jesus, You would redirect me, give me trust in You, and draw me into deeper intimacy with You because of this truth. Amen.

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Reflection:

1) Which of God’s fatherly qualities speaks most tenderly to your heart? Why?

2) How is the cross a powerful revelation of God’s fatherly character?

3) In what ways has this study deepened the intimacy of your relationship with God as your Father?