Children
To understand how God sees us, we need to think of how we are toward our children.
‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. ‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! ‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. - Matthew 7:1-12
While there are some parents who treat their children poorly, or worse, abuse them, that is not the type of relationship Jesus is talking about here.
Jesus portrayed God as the loving father who would do anything for his children; anything they ask for will be given them.
But what should we ask for? It seems to me that God wants us to ask not for ourselves so much as for others. We are more likely to get God's attention that way.
With God's help, we will find what we search for in life, and obstacles will become doorways. But we shouldn't be judgmental of others. We should treat everyone the way we would like them to treat us.
Imagine if everyone did that.
We have the power to make the world better for all by the way we act toward one another, but the key here, I think is to trust God.
If we see every obstacle as insurmountable, we will never succeed. God may not throw things in our way, but He can help us find a way around or through them.
It's up to us.
More to come...