Come home to the Father

Posted byoakhillcrossvillePosted inUncategorized
Good morning everyone,
 
Our theme for this month: “What the world needs now”
 
Our Bible verse for today: “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15-16 (CSB)
 
Our thought for today: “Come home to the Father”
 
The other morning, in my devotional book “Year of Restoration” by John Eldredge, I read this: “Most believe that Christianity is an offer of forgiveness. What isn’t often grasped is that there’s more. Forgiveness was made available to you so that you might come home to the Father. Forgiveness is not the goal. Coming home to the Father is the goal.”
 
In a previous devotional in this series I noted that the Bible is primarily a love story. It is about the love of God for human beings and His deep desire for us to spend eternity in heaven with Him. However, sin keeps us from Him and so He sent Jesus to earth to rescue us from the consequences of our sins and to provide a way for us to come home to Him in heaven. As Eldrege so eloquently explained, forgiveness is not really the goal, coming home to the Father is the goal. Forgiveness is simply the path that gets us there.
 
As Paul explained in Romans 8:15-16, what we’re seeing here is the heart of the Father for His adopted children. He wants you to be with Him so badly that He went to extraordinary lengths to make it possible. I can relate. All four of my children were adopted, the two youngest by international adoption from Korea. Adoption can be quite an ordeal and it is often very expensive. But Linda and I happily, willingly, eagerly went through the ordeal so we could have those children in our family. What we did for our children pales in comparison to the lengths God went to for us. More than anything, He wants us to come home to Him in heaven.
 
This morning, I’m beginning two weeks of vacation. I will be going first to Texas, to gather my family, and then on to Hawaii for a family vacation. Therefore, this will be the last devotional until Monday May 19th.
 
For the next two weeks I encourage you to review some of the devotionals from the previous month in this series about the love of God. The love of God is the most important reality in your life. I encourage you to think about it. Pray about it. Embrace it. And enjoy it. The Father is longing for you to come home to Him and experience His great love for you – forever.
 
God bless,
Pastor Jim
 
(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville
 
 
Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.


Our mailing address is:
Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

One thought on “Come home to the Father”

Leave a comment