The Love of the Father

                                         "If the love of a father will not make a child
                                          delight in him, what will?
                                                                               John Owen


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          God redeems His children, and guides them with His strength and love.
     They can count on Him, no matter what obstacles they may meet.

                                           "You have led in your steadfast love the
                                             people whom you have redeemed;
                                             you have guided them by your strength
                                             to your holy abode."
                                                                                 Exodus 15:13


         God loves those who love Him and obey Him.  He is always faithful to them.


                                            [God said He would show] "steadfast love to thousands
                                            of those who love me and keep my commandments."
                                                                                  Exodus 20:6


         The love of the LORD endures forever, and He will fulfill His purpose in His
     children.  They will never be forsaken.


                                             "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
                                              your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
                                              Do not forsake the work of your hands."
                                                                                    Psalm 138:8


          God loves his people so much that he adopts us as part of his family.
   


                                             "See what kind of love the Father has given to us,
                                              that we should be called children of God; and so
                                              we are."
                                                                                     1 John 3:1


           Everyone who has the Holy Spirit is a child of God.
     He grants us all the rights of natural children.

                                            "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons
                                             of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of
                                             slavery to fall back into fear, but you have
                                             received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom
                                             we cry, 'Abba! Father!'

                                             The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
                                             that we are children of God, and if children, then
                                             heirs -- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
                                             provided we suffer with him in order that we may
                                             also be glorified with him."
                                                                                     Romans 8:14-16


          The LORD rewards those who honor the Sabbath and delight in Him;
     those who seek God's will, and not their own.


                                            "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,
                                             from doing your pleasure on my holy day,
                                             and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day
                                             of the LORD honorable;

                                             if you honor it, not going your own ways
                                             or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly,
                                             then you shall take delight in the LORD,
                                             and I will make you ride on the heights of
                                             the earth."
                                                                             Isaiah 58:13-14a


             God blesses those who put Him first and live for Him each day.
     Those who follow Him will be fully satisfied.

                                             "Delight yourself in the LORD,
                                              and he will give you the desires
                                              of your heart."
                                                                              Psalm 137:4