Thursday, July 16, 2015
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Driving in Mexico? Oh, that's an adventure. Actually, riding with someone who's driving is an adventure!
Some years ago when we had an office in Latin America, I was with our director of Latin American outreach. He was very skillfully and amazingly navigating the challenges of the traffic in his city. Don's little boy, John, was in the back seat and at one point our back seat helper reminded Daddy that he was supposed to be getting in the next lane for an upcoming tunnel! It took a little doing, but Don managed to get over there somehow, at which point little John in the back seat had a word for his father. This little voice said from the back seat, "Good job, Daddy!" See, John 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!
Little John has an attitude toward his father that we would do well to have with our Father - our Heavenly Father. Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Colossians 3:15, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts," (Boy, wouldn't you like that - the peace of Christ in charge in your heart?) "Since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."
Now, we've got "be thankful," and then "gratitude in your hearts." 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 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.
It should never cease to amaze us that we've been invited to call the Sovereign of the Universe "Father." Man! 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. 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 when you look consciously for the things in that day for which you can thank God; things you can compliment your Heavenly Father on. "You sent me someone to encourage me Father. Good job!" Or, "Look at those clouds! 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. Thank You!" 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."
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 day's events. You compliment Him often on His grace in action in your life. Because you go out in the morning looking for God-sightings and they'll be everywhere, it's 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 John, you start to come out of the complaining business, the self-pity approach, the victim mind set. You begin to experience a new kind of peace, contentment and joy with the peace of Christ ruling in your heart.
Like the wife I 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." She said, "Honey, we don't have money but we're already rich." See, that's the viewpoint of someone who is looking for the blessing of God in their day.
When little boy, John, complimented his father on how he did 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 boy's admiration, "Good job, Daddy!"