Now, driving in Mexico is really an adventure. Actually, riding with someone who's driving is an adventure!
I was with our director of Latin American outreach a couple of weeks ago and he was very skillfully and amazingly navigating the challenges of the traffic in his city. It didn't really bother me much, I just took a sedative - no not really - but David's little boy Isaac was in the back seat and at one point our back seat helper reminded Daddy that he was supposed to be getting in the lane for an upcoming tunnel! It took a little doing, but David managed to get over there somehow, at which point Isaac had a word for his father. This little voice said from the back seat, "Good job Daddy!" Well, actually Isaac says that pretty often, he likes what his father does, and he tells him.
Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Good Job Daddy!"
Now little Isaac has an attitude toward his father that we would do well to have with ours. Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Colossians 3:15, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts," boy, you'd like that, wouldn't you?, "since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Now, we've got one "be thankful," we've got two "gratitude in your hearts to God." Here's verse 17, "and whatever you do, whether in word or deed do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks," three times, "to God the Father through Him." In other words the message is clear, do everything you do with an attitude of gratitude towards your Father.
First of all, it should never cease to amaze us that we've been invited to call the Sovereign of the Universe Father in the first place. Galatians 4:6 shows us that we're now God's children learning to call Him Abba Father. That's the affectionate, childlike name for your Father like Daddy is today. Now, the question is, how often during each day do you stop and say, "Good job Father, Abba Father"? It's a whole revolutionizing outlook on life, looking consciously for the things in that day for which you can thank God on which you can in a sense compliment your Heavenly Father. "You sent me someone to encourage me Father, good job!" Or, "Look at those clouds, man, you're an incredible artist Lord!" Or, "You've kept this car running for so long, I just wanted you to know that I noticed, Father. Thanks!" Or, "Thanks for this idea, Lord." Or, "Thanks for this extra money," "thanks for that verse You brought to my attention today! It's just what I needed." Well, you get the idea. It's a mindset that expects your loving Father to show His love in dozens of different ways today, that goes through the day looking for His finger prints on the days events, that compliments Him often on His grace in action in your life. Like aiming a camera at part of the scene that you want to record. You decide at the beginning of your day to focus on your Father's blessings. And when you become a Father watcher like little Isaac you start to come out of the complaining business, the self-pity approach, the victim mind set, and you begin to experience a new kind of peace, contentment and joy. Like that wife a read about. She and her husband were unpacking their humble possessions in a new little dwelling place. He said, "Maybe someday we'll have money, and be rich." And she said, "Honey, we don't have money but we're already rich." You see that's the viewpoint of someone who is looking for the blessing of God in their day.
When little Isaac compliments his father on how he does things, I could tell that Dad's heart was really warmed. I think your Heavenly Father thinks the same way when you notice all He's doing for you. And many times a day you echo a little boys admiration, "Good job Daddy!"