1 Peter 1:17-20 – And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.

THEME OF THE DAY: OUR RICHES IN CHRIST. In writing to the Ephesian believers, the Apostle Paul described God’s call on his life with these words, “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:7-8). It was a call to preach the “unsearchable riches of Christ.” And, we, as recipients of God’s grace, have been granted access by faith to these “unsearchable riches of Christ.” What might they be? The best way to begin to answer that question is to understand the definition of what “unsearchable” both is and is not. It literally means “impossible to understand or comprehend”, but it does not mean “impossible to experience.” Like so many things in the Christian life, we just “know” because we “know.” For instance, the peace of God that passes all understanding. Tell me what that means. Oh, we may try to explain it but we really cannot. And when in the company of other Christians, we don’t need to define it because we experience it and they know what we mean. The same with the joy of the Lord. Try as we may, we cannot define it. It is not an emotion but may produce emotion. It is not something we can fully explain but we know it when we have it and we sure know it when we don’t!

So, think with me on the unsearchable riches of Christ. There are so many; freedom from guilt, forgiveness of all sin and sins, an eternity in a place of untainted holiness and happiness, and the list goes on and on. However, I don’t want us to go on and on. Let’s just focus on one of the unsearchable riches of Christ revealed in today’s scripture. It is a treasure that will revolutionize our walks with the Lord. It will transform our prayer lives. It will give a “spring in our spiritual step” every day. It is found in this truth – God has become our Heavenly Father – “if you call on Him as Father.” Please. Slow down. Plant our hearts and minds on this truth; God, our Creator, through His Son, the Creator, enables us, invites us, and desires of us to call Him “Father.” Think of three applications of God being our Heavenly Father in our times of trouble.

First, when we are hurting and lonely, needing the comfort of a never-forsaking companion, we have access to “Our Heavenly Father” who has said, “‘And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me’, says the Lord Almighty’” (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Next, when we fail and fall into sin for the “umpteenth” time and feel like absolute spiritual failures who will never measure up, we may run and rest in our Heavenly Father who said, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).

Finally, when we are drained of strength, tired of the spiritual warfare raging within us and all around us, we may cling to our Heavenly Father who said, “Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you will glorify me” (Psalm 50:15).

Yes, we have so many “unsearchable riches of Christ” freely bestowed upon us and one is that God has become our glorious Heavenly Father. Take time soon to get alone with Him and allow Him to reveal Himself as such through His Word, prayer, and Spirit.

PRAYER: “Father, open my eyes to see the indescribable privilege I have to call You Father.”

QUOTE: “Don’t take it for granted that our Creator is willing for us to call Him, ‘our Father’.”