"They (Human fathers) disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness." (Hebrews 12:10)
This analogy of a father teachers his daughter to bike flashes across my mind in my devotion. I am referring this biking lesson to our lifetime learning of godliness and becoming holy. It is “to put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)
I picture how we, as the children of God, may struggle and fall at some point like the daughter trips on the bike in the learning process. At times it feels like we are battling alone on our own strength as the father lets go of the bike. We may be facing hardships and get hurt physically, emotionally and spiritually. We feel like we are alone.
At times, for her good, the father keeps a close distance from the bike and let the daughter learn without giving assistance. God draws us to Him but never force us to believe or obey Him. He gives us a leeway to make the decision to follow Him. However, He is watching us 24/7 just as the father keeps an eye on his daughter such that she would not be badly hurt. Like the father catches the daughter from falling off the bike, His hand reaches out to extend help and support us in the times of trouble.
“My soul clings to You;
Your (God’s) right hand upholds me.” (Psalms 63:8)
Our Father God is patient and encouraging in this learning process of godliness. He gives us the confidence that will become like Him one day.
Ultimately, the process is hard but is a precious time for building a father-daughter relationship, in our case, between God and us. We learn to love and trust God as we have no one but Him to rely on in our hardest times. As the father is present throughout the lesson of biking, God is present for those who continually seek, believe in and obey Him. He is willing to walk with us in our life journey. He will never leave us alone.
The reward for the little girl is being able to bike and enjoy the pleasure of going to places and seeing the beautiful world. Similarly, we have the promise of an eternal heavenly home with our perfect, loving everlasting Father.
來12:10 「生身的父都是暫隨己意管教我們．惟有萬靈的父管教我們、是要我們得益處、使我們在他的聖潔上有分。」
突然有個念頭, 父神就像我們的父親教導兒女騎單車一樣。在這一生中祂教導我們如何學習聖潔更像主。就好似以弗所書4章所說的, 這個學習過程是要「脫去你們從前行為上的舊人。這舊人是因私慾的迷惑、漸漸變壞的。 又要將你們的心志改換一新, 並且穿上新人。這新人是照著 神的形像造的、有真理的仁義、和聖潔。」
在學習的期間, 我們作為神的兒女或許會遇上困難, 掙扎並且跌倒, 就好像小孩未學會的時候絆倒了。有時候感覺像在獨自搏鬥而感覺不到父神的同在, 好像這位的父親把手從單車暫時放開一樣。我們或許遇到困難或者身心靈受傷了, 覺得很無助。 為了小孩的好處, 父親暫時跟單車保持一段距離, 讓她在沒有幫助底下獨自學習一下。好像神把我們吸引到他的身邊, 但他從來不會逼我們去相信或順從他。他給我們一個空間去決定是否跟隨。
不過, 神從來不會完全離棄我們, 反之神每天每時每刻都在看顧我們。好像那位父親的眼目沒有離開過他的女兒一樣, 在背後看著她, 預備好隨時接住她, 以免她會跌傷。「詩63:8 我心緊緊的跟隨你．你的右手扶持我。」 我們的父神是長久忍耐, 有恩慈和憐憫, 鼓勵人去跟隨、效法祂的聖潔。並且祂給我們信心有一天會像祂一樣 。
學習的過程是困難的, 但這是一個珍貴建立親情的時間。就是在最困難、發覺沒有一人能完全幫助的時候, 我們才學習到神的寶貴, 愛神和堅信祂。那位父親在整個學騎單車的過程都在女兒身邊, 同樣, 神也常常在那些持續尋找、相信和順服祂的人身邊。祂很願意和我們同走人生路, 並且永遠不會離開我們的! 最終, 因那位父親的愛和付出, 小女孩所得到的是學會騎單車並能到不同的地方看世界的風光。我們亦白白地從神得到這應許, 有永遠的家鄉與我們所愛的父神在一起!
關慧心 Rebecca Kwan
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