Everlasting Father

Kelli Baker

Advent Series 2023

Day Twenty

What sacrifices have you made to either serve in the military or stand alongside your service member as they serve? Sacrifices require laying down one’s desires to meet someone else’s needs.

However, the sacrifices our father makes here on earth are nothing compared to those the Father makes. Our earthly father is finite. Our heavenly Father is infinite. The example of our father on this earth should ultimately point us to the Everlasting Father in heaven.

Jesus humbly came to this earth, simply so that he could sacrifice his life in order for us to be in relationship with the Father. He took on human form so he could sympathize with us. There is nothing too big or too much for him to handle. He experienced the pain of being rejected. Jesus dealt with the deep sorrow of losing a friend when Lazarus died. Only Jesus had the power to raise Lazarus up though. Even then, knowing he would bring Lazarus back to life, Jesus still wept.

The examples we read of Jesus’ humanity are designed to remind us that he has been in the trenches of this broken world as well. Jesus was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, yet he remained sinless. His sacrifice on the cross was not meant to put us to shame, but to free us from the burden of sin and shame.

When Jesus died on the cross, his blood that was shed covers our sins and makes us new. As he walked out of the tomb, he left his Spirit behind so that we have an Everlasting Father within us who has walked these same roads we walk. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that lives within us and empowers us.

Do you see Jesus’ sacrifice as one that makes you whole? Look to the cross and leave behind your shame. When you are covered with the blood of Jesus, our Everlasting Father, your sins are washed away. Will you accept this gift of grace?

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the sacrifice you made to come to us in human form. Give us courage to lay aside our shame and walk in freedom knowing that you have and will accomplish the work inside our hearts. Amen.