Everyday, we behold the Father and realize that He is on the throne. Revelation chapter 4 tells us that the Father has infinite glory and beauty. As seen by Stephen, the Son of Man is standing at the right hand of God (ref. Acts 7:55). I have believed in the Lord for sixty years. I treasure calling to the Lord every day. I don’t just call Him “Lord;” But I especially enjoy calling Him “Lord, the love of my youth.” This reminds me of the days when I first believed. Indeed, He is the love of my youth. The Lord’s passion, grace, and love are tremendous.
I also treasure so much that God is my dearest Father. Therefore, every day we should realize that our life is bound up with Abba’s life. I want to share some tips with you on enjoying being heart to heart with the Father. When we talk to God, oftentimes, we talk to the Lord. We may not talk to the Father as much. Same goes for Bible reading. When we read about God or Yahweh in Psalm, for example, we are more likely to think of the Lord. Yahweh is the everlasting and self-existing LORD. Actually, the Father is Yahweh, and so is the Lord. Therefore, Yahweh can refer to both the Father and the Lord. Isaiah 53:6 reads, “And the LORD (Yahweh in Chinese translation) has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” In this verse, “the LORD” was referring to the Father, but in some cases, “Yahweh” refers to the Lord. We often direct our thoughts to the Lord when reading Psalm. As a matter of fact, we can also think of the Father in many cases. This will help us better understand the love of the Father. For example, Psalms 32 gives us warmth when we read it as words from the Father. However, we do need to be mindful that in some cases such as prophecies specifically about the Lord, this cannot be used for the Father.
For those scripture that can be applied to both the Father and the Lord,applying them (Thomas) considering them with respect to the Father gives us a better understanding and deeper enjoyment of the Father. Of course, for the scriptures that specifically refer to the Lord, we cannot read them by applying them with respect to the Father. In the Old Testament, the understanding of the Father and the Lord were not that clear.
Psalm 32:8-9 read, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.”
This passage tells us that God will instruct us. It’s true that the Lord will instruct and gaze upon us. He will teach us in the way we should go. It is also appropriate to consider this passage as words from the Father. It helps me a lot when I think of the Father instructing and teaching me in the way I should go. I feel the intimacy with the Father. He counsels me with His eye upon me. Aren’t you happy to hear the words from the Father? He is so close and intimate with us when He says, “I will teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
Psalm 139:3 reads, “You search out my path and my lying down…” Psalm 139:18 reads, “…I awake, and I am still with you.” We can read these verses with respect to the Father. The Father is with me through the night. His eyes are on me. When we think of God, we know that the Father also plays a part. Though we often think of the Lord more than the Father, the reality is that the Father is also very involved. Seeing the Father more is very helpful to us.