OUR FATHER...NEVER ACCUSED OF
NON-SUPPORT
Chuck Swindoll is a world renowned
author and preacher. By all reports,
Pastor Chuck has an outstanding capacity to impart practical wisdom and
powerful inspiration into the lives of Christian laity and leaders. However, he describes an occasion of real ministry
crisis. While speaking at a pastor's
conference he had a discouraging feeling of absolute failure. Although those in attendance were quite
engaged, seeminglly clinging to every word, he was overwhelmed by a deep sense
of emptiness and frustration.
Sensing that God was trying to
communicate something significant, Pastor Chuck called four trusted friends to
his home and gave them this directive.
“I want you to listen carefully to my life story and see if anything
stands out to you.” Beginning with his
earliest memories, he poured out his life story as friends listened
attentively.
When he had finished, one of the
friends followed up with a few questions and then said, “Chuck, I want you to
place your head on the table and close your eyes.” Chuck complied willingly, laying his head on
the table in front of him and closing his eyes.
“Now, Chuck, I want you to imagine
that YOUR FATHER is holding you in his arms,” suggested his friend. “Now what do you feel?”
Almost instantly Chuck began to cry.
For thirty minutes he sobbed
uncontrollably. You see, Chuck’s father
had died when he was just seven months old so he had no experience or
recollection of a father’s love. But as
he closed his eyes that day, he felt the presence of pure, profound, powerful
and unconditional love.
At that moment, Chuck realized that
although he had preached hundreds of messages about God’s great love for us, he
had never personally felt the intimacy and warmth of that love. While his head lay on the table that day he
sensed, for the first time, that His Heavenly Father truly loved him – deeply,
completely and unconditionally.
By his own testimony, Chuck Swindoll
and his ministry were never the same again.
My friends, while I may be
unfamiliar with your life circumstances, I am sufficiently sensitive to the
human condition to know that each of us has experienced those troubling times
of doubt or despair. In our heart of
hearts, perhaps we have even wondered if God really cares because our problems
loomed so large and we seemed so small.
Here’s good news. In the words of the late Bishop J. O.
Patterson, Sr., “We have a FATHER who has never been accused of
non-support." Phenomenal!
During our prayer time today,
Belinda and I were led to cry out together to Him, “FATHER...FATHER...FATHER.” And before we rose from our knees, we felt a
deep sense of assurance that HE is forever present and powerful – far greater
than our ability to conceptualize or imagine.
In a word, OUR FATHER is absolutely awesome!
Sisters and brothers, be continually
blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON
COMING KING. Maranatha!
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