Father First
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.’”
Have you ever seen the movie, Mulan? *Spoiler* - she saves China by joining the army (even though it’s illegal for women to be in the army). Whether you have or haven’t seen it, there’s this great moment in the movie when the Emperor lays out all of Mulan’s flaws just to land on honoring her before a massive crowd of people. I can’t resist but include the clip:
Now, you’re probably wondering what this movie clip has to do with our scriptures today. Well, this Emperor reminds me a lot of God the Father. He is wise. He speaks the truth. He bestows honor. He does what’s best for His country and His people. And most of all, He is a Father to His people.
The Emperor sets aside the law for the good of His people. He chooses to bestow honor and gratefulness to someone who is significantly inferior to Him and His position. He is a Father to His people, and He takes that seriously. Instead of putting Mulan to death (as the law would dictate), He is a Father first - just as our God is.
Our God is a Father first.
In the Psalm today, God explains how He wants David to see Him. He calls Himself the Father, the Rock, the Savior. He wants those titles. He wants to be known as a Father first. And He shows it.
Our God begins with delight. He begins by choosing us - by accepting us for all that we are and all that we can be. He works on us, develops us, and invests in us just like a good father does. Jesus invited us to embrace God as Father at every turn - primarily referring to God as His Father, and today, we’re invited to start with Father. We’re invited to rest in the arms of our Father before anything else. Because while our God is so many things, He starts with Father.
Father,
Thank You for beginning with fatherhood. Thank You for starting with delight and love and tenderness.
God, help us to approach You first as Father. Help us to come to You driven by love and affection instead of hardness and duty. Help us to open our hearts to You more and more deeply each day - knowing that our hopes and dreams, trials and troubles are all safe with You, our Father and confidant.
Father, we love You. Help us to start each day with You as Father first. Amen.