What The Father Longs For

There is only one relationship that the Father has ever wanted with us and that is for him to be a Father to us and for us to know that we are his sons and daughters. In fact, it’s more than that. It’s one thing to know we’re sons and daughters whereas it’s a completely different thing to live as sons and daughters. 
 
God’s desire is actually very simple and we read it in the following verse:
 
I myself said, “How gladly would I treat you as sons and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation. I thought you would call me ‘Father’ and not turn away from following me.” (Jeremiah 3:19 NIV)
 
That’s it! God’s desire is that we would call him ‘Father’ - why? Because that’s who he is. The promises and blessings of taking such a step are immense. 
 
These blessings are three-fold. Firstly, when we know God is being a Father to us we discover our true identity; we are treated as sons and daughters. Treated the same way as the Father treats his son, Jesus. Secondly, we find our place of true belonging, our ‘pleasant land’. There is a place for us to call home when we know God has made his home in our heart (John 14:23). And thirdly, we live in and receive our inheritance. A master does not give his inheritance to his servant but a father gives it to his children. 
 
This is what the Father longs to do for each of us. Yet as I read this verse in Jeremiah, I feel the pain in the Father’s heart as it is like he is unable to do what is the desire in his heart. His desire seems thwarted and is only fulfilled once we turn and see him for who he truly is. Father. That turning opens the door for us to step into this three-fold blessing. 
 
The Father’s desire is satisfied by a simple promise, the assurance of his word back up by all of the authority of Heaven. 
 
I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor 6:18)