The Perfect Parent

In the Mother's Day message – the first point was that "There are no perfect mom's" – that was not intended to be a slam on mothers around the world but more of a relief… We can stop expecting our mom's to BE perfect and every mom can stop comparing herself to others or feeling like she should be perfect.

In light of that – I just want to say that I love my mom and she has been the greatest mom for me. I also have learned that there are no PERFECT PARENTS…Mom or Dad. 
Because we know this (deep down) it might cause us to question God as our Father. I want you to see just a few of the promises that God makes to us in Scripture and a few descriptive terms about Him that comfort me. Jesus said this:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.   For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him. --- Matt 7:7-11 (NIV)

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.   He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  "All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. --- John 14:23-27 (NIV)

The apostle Paul described God as someone that cares for us and thus we can be encouraged in our spiritual lives:

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,  encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. --- 2 Thess 2:16-17 (NIV)

The apostle John wrote:

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him --- 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  I and the Father are one." --- John 10:25-30 (NIV) 

In this passage there are a couple of things to note – first, Jesus claims to give us eternal life and to offer us the promise of security that NO ONE can remove us from HIS hands and then He includes God the Father in that same picture – NO ONE can remove them from the hand of His Father. In light of the verse before – 1 John 3:1 – God loves us SO much that He lavishes us with His love and offers us the title "children of God"! Then reflect back on the Matthew 7 passage above, also, where God loves us so much that He offers us good things and seeks to give us good gifts. God never forgets and never neglects and never forsakes us. This is a different picture than many people have of God. He is not a God that is out to get us or punish us He is a God that loves us so much that He looks out for us. It does not mean that we are promised wealth or security or a "safe" and healthy life but it DOES mean that when things are not quite right in life and it looks like things are falling apart – that HE is always right there helping us through it.

I love how Isaiah 40 describes Him…

See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.  {11} He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.  {12}Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? --- Isaiah 40:10-12 (NIV)

Look at verse 11! This is the same God that is so immense in verse 12 that we could not fathom it and yet he holds a tender lamb like you and me close to His chest to comfort us.

I hope that your view of God is clearer than what you may see here on earth because there are no perfect parents on earth but God is the perfect parent who knows just what is right for every situation.