Intimate Honor: Connecting with our Loving Heavenly Father

By Gregory John Wilson

Devotional based on Malachi 1:6a

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Here we see the LORD of hosts – Adonai Tseva'ot – asking His people a question –

"If then I am the Father, where is my honor?" Malachi 1:6a

He has the right to ask this question, being God Almighty Himself, and it is not arrogant of Him to ask it. It is fitting. So, His question teaches us that a Father must be honored – as does the 5th commandment.

Yet. At the other end of the spectrum, we find that we can call Him Abba – Daddy (Romans 8:15) – and have warm intimacy with Him. Thus, these two ends of the spectrum meet – Intimacy yet Honor – and so we come to Him with tenderness and intimacy, yet still being in awe of Him and with reverence. This is modeled perfectly by the perfect Son – Yeshua – who cried with fervency in the garden to His Father – for Him to spare Him the cross if there was any way – but He also submitted to the will of His Father, with reverence. Let us do likewise.

Prayer

Abba Father, I come as your small child to you with tenderness and cries for Your care, yet I know You are the Mighty God, the Mighty Lion, who cares for His own yet is stirred to wrath by sin and Your enemies. I submit to your care and discipline and I praise You Father in awe. Amein.

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shepherdsembraceministries@gmail.com

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