Responding to God’s Promises

God told His chosen people He wanted to be their heavenly Father. The Apostle Paul quotes the Old Testament prophets Samuel and Isaiah where God says ‘I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty’ (2 Corinthians 6:18). Now Paul confidently applies the promises given to Israel to new believers in Jesus, who come from a Gentile background. They are fully adopted into God’s ‘New Covenant’ family.

But God has high expectations of all His beloved sons and daughters. There are certain things He doesn’t want for them – things that He knows would defile them and eventually separate them from close relationship with Him. So Paul gave the Corinthians this advice: ‘Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?’ (2 Corinthians 6:14). When Paul wrote this to the Corinthian believers he meant that they weren’t to follow false teachers who had appeared within the Church.

But we can apply these wise words of advice to ourselves today, and not just because of the danger of following false teachers. It’s far wider than that and covers such things as being joined as a business partner or marriage partner with someone who is hostile to the Christian faith or God’s purposes.

As sons or daughters of God, the heavenly Father, surely we want to receive His smile of approval. Surely we want to hear the words that God, the Father spoke to Jesus ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’ (Matthew 3:17). We really want to please Him. And, just like good, earthly fathers, our heavenly Father wants the very best for us, His children. If we follow His directions we will so blessed and then we can be a blessing to others.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family and making me Your beloved daughter (son). Help me as I do my best to bring holiness to completion and cleanse myself from every defilement of body and spirit, Amen.