Our Father Really Does Know Best

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." -  Jeremiah 29:11

A few of the readers will remember the TV series by that name, "Father Knows Best". It ran from 1954 to 1958.  I was 8 in 1958. It starred  Elinor Donahue, Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Lauren Chapin, and Billy Gray as the Anderson family. (Never heard of any of those people?) A nearly perfect middle class - white, mid-west family. The family trusted the father to know what to do about everything. Do you see whare I am going with this? 

God's desire for us is the very best. Unlike Robert Young's character, he does have all the right answers to every problem. That does not mean, however, that He will intervene on our behalf in the way that we think is best. "Best" meaning the best possible outcome for us that does not mean sorrow, disappointment, or loss of any sort.  In other words, the way we want the outcome to be. In my experience, what I think is best does not always align with God's thinking. 

God's will, His answers to life's issues, are revealed in His Word and made plain to us by His Spirit. Since we can know what His will for us is, all that is left for us to do is to obey Him. Oh, that! Many times, what we want to do - what our flesh suggest we do is "Cherry Pick" God's commands for living. We pick the ones that look good to us and pass by the ones that don't. One problem.

"To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." - James 4:17

Ok, so we abandon the idea of ignoring what God makes plain to us. There is an adage that goes, "You can make me do it, but you can't make me like it." Like making your son tell his sister that he is sorry. And he can't get off of the sofa until he does. "Okay! I'm SORRY!" It very often lacks sincerity but in his mind, the end justified the means. He got off of the sofa by saying words that he didn't mean.

We can't see the heart, but God can. If we do the right thing out of obligation, we do not honor God. He sees our real feelings that reside in our heart. Though the world may hear our words or see our actions, they mis-interpret as a godly act. Something to be commended. When in fact, it is no more than feigned obedience. Jesus called the Pharisees "whitewashed tombs filled with dead men's bones". In other words, they may look godly on the outside but their hearts are far from godly.

"These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me." - Matthew 15:8

If you struggle with obedience, it is because you have a love problem. You don't love God enough. So how much is enough?

"'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" - Matthew 22: 36-39

When you love God with every fiber of your being, then that love will be expressed in and through your life. Proving that your Father really does know best!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone