What does calling God "Father" in Jeremiah 3:4 imply about our obedience? Setting the Scene • Jeremiah addresses Judah’s unfaithful heart, picturing the nation as an adulterous spouse who still uses tender family language toward God. • Their words, “My Father,” sound intimate, yet their conduct proves otherwise (Jeremiah 3:6–10). • The verse lifts a mirror: calling God “Father” carries covenant obligations that Judah was ignoring. Hearing the Verse “Have you not just called to Me, ‘My Father, You are my friend from youth’?” (Jeremiah 3:4) What “Father” Communicates 1. Relationship – He chose and established us as His children (Exodus 4:22; 1 John 3:1). 2. Authority – Fathers in Scripture possess the right to direct and correct (Hebrews 12:9). 3. Care – A father provides, protects, and disciplines for our good (Matthew 6:31-33). 4. Honor – Children are to respect and obey (Malachi 1:6; Ephesians 6:1-3). Implications for Obedience Calling God “Father” obligates us to: • Submit to His commands instead of merely reciting endearing titles (Luke 6:46). • Reflect His character—truth, mercy, holiness (Ephesians 5:1). • Receive His discipline as sons, not resent it (Hebrews 12:5-11; Proverbs 3:11-12). • Trust His wisdom when obedience costs us comfort (Romans 8:15-17). • Honor Him publicly and privately, avoiding the hypocrisy Judah displayed (Matthew 15:8). Contrast with Judah’s Lip Service • Judah used warm language yet chased idols (Jeremiah 3:9). • God exposed the inconsistency: a true child listens and turns back (Jeremiah 3:12-13). • Their example warns us that affectionate words without surrendered lives offend the Father more than silent rebellion. Walking This Out Today – Examine: Does my daily conduct match the name “child of God”? – Repent: Where obedience is lacking, quickly return (1 John 1:9). – Align: Let Scripture shape choices; keep short accounts with sin (John 14:23). – Depend: Rely on the Spirit for the power to obey (Galatians 5:16). – Remember: The Father’s commandments flow from love, not tyranny (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). Summing Up Using the title “Father” is not a sentimental flourish; it is a commitment to honor, obey, and resemble the One whose name we bear. Anything less reduces the word to empty syllables—exactly what God, through Jeremiah, exposed and rejects. |
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