Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Ps. 34:8
“Yesterday, the optometrist said that I had 20/20 vision. A miracle has happened! How could that be? I had not even prayed about it!” exclaimed my sister last night over the phone. Although she has worn glasses for about 40 years, she knew something utterly amazing had happened with her eyes, as she was able to watch TV, drive, and read the songs and scriptures projected on a screen at church clearly without any glasses. When she asked the optometrist, “How could this have happened?” He replied, “It was good luck.” Although she knew it had to be God and not good luck, she kept asking me, “How could this have happened?”
Immediately, I responded, because you have a “Good Good Father.” Could it be that simple? Although our adult carnal minds have a tendency to reason away countless acts of God’s goodness as “good luck” or “karma,” as believers we are called to have child-like trust in our heavenly Father, acknowledging that He is good. (Mark 10:13-15; Ps. 100:5) A good earthly father will not only give good things to his children when they ask, but he will also bestow his goodness upon them just because he loves them. As we visited our son and daughter-in-law in Nashville this past week, we saw this demonstrated numerous times as they interacted with their two children.
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Jesus introduced the reality of how God wants us to relate to Him not only as our Father, but as our “Good Father.” Jesus said, “For everyone who asks receives… If his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone?… If you then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7-11
… how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
The “how much more” is beautifully illustrated in the children’s story “Good Good Father” by Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett. In this story Tucker the bear reasoned that if he gave the King the perfect gift, “maybe, just maybe” the King would be willing to help his needy bear friends. Loaded down with gifts Tucker reached the King, asking for his help. The King replied, “You brought the perfect gift!” After the King helped everyone in need, Tucker asked, “Which gift was the perfect gift?” The King replied, “You are the perfect gift!…You trusted me. You bring me great joy, and I love you…” Who did the King help? Everyone in need! (See Lk 9:11) Why? “You trusted me… and I love you…”
After reading the “Good Good Father” several times to my 3 year old granddaughter this past week, she asked “What is the perfect gift?” I explained to her how it was not all the things Tucker brought to the King to earn his favor, but rather it was Tucker himself. To help her understand, I related this story to my relationship with her. I told her how special she is to me, how much I love her, and how she is “the perfect gift.” After I finished, she got a big smile on her face and said matter-of-factly, “Then, you are the king.” How profound! When you receive the simplicity of this Good News – how much you are loved by God and how you are truly God’s “chosen treasure,” “His perfect gift” – then you are able to walk through this life with a smile on your face, declaring “You are the King, You are the Good Good Father.”