The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Today my contemplation on these words have brought me to understand the patience and the love of God. Now that I have children of my own who try my patience sometimes to a point of vexation, I understand the depth of God's patience. His children choose to do so much unimaginable evil, and yet He waits patiently for them to make correct choices, to understand His nature, to see the goal He really wants them to achieve which is to be like Him. He is the ultimate parent. He stands by with great consuming love, allowing his children to suffer the knocks and consequences of their poor choices for the greater good of wisdom, understanding and maturity.
As a parent, I do much the same at a human level. How I long to be like Him! But I am reminded however, that I am a work in progress. There are moments when I bubble up with great joy, when my child has had a revelation, a moment of wisdom or when he has realized the error of his ways and is truly sorry for his transgression, and I know he will carry the lesson in his mind for the rest of his life. Can you imagine the Father's joy when we even have a small inkling of His ways and especially if we begin to conform to them and apply them to our lives.
In the context of my own children, I long to see them grow up to be committed Christians. Totally at peace, and to have exceeding joy, abundant life and a level of maturity beyond their years. I long to give them the best, to establish them so that they may be blessed in adulthood and it is so easy now to see just how much our Father wants the same for us.
If I work hard for the kids, often putting their needs before my own, I know also that my Father God, who created me, is also hard at work for me.
So, I can rest in this precious knowledge. I can trust in His direction and allow Him to lead me. I can open myself up to Him in confidence knowing that He will not betray my trust. I can pour out my love to Him and know that I am loved deeply in return.
"Father God, I pray and I command, by the authority I have as your child, a special blessing on those who read this and look to You for hope, that the eyes of their mind be opened to a deeper understanding of who You really are. In Jesus name. Amen"
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