Matthew 3: 13-17, Genesis 37: 3-4, Ephesians 1: 3, Psalm 139: 13, Romans 8: 28-29

The 'Paternal Blessing' is essential in the understanding of our true identity in life and therefore my challenge to you today is to get the blessing back!

We can do this by recognizing again the basics of the Christian faith, Ephesians 1: 3 says:

'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ'.

This means that we no longer need to seek human approval; we are approved by our heavenly Father who blesses us through Christ. It means that our identity is not based on what we do, or have, or who we know, but it is based on whose we are - God's.

Always remember that God blessed and blesses us for three reasons:

• He made you the way you are.
  Psalm 139: 13 says, 'For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.' To understand why God blesses us we must have a revelation that He made us and loves us exactly the way we are.
• He paid a high price to have a relationship with you.
  God gave everything to defend you, John 3: 16 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.' God did not give everything He had to watch you live a small, contained life - He did it so you could, through His blessing and favour, '..have life, and have it to the full' (John 10: 10).
• He is committed to making you look like Jesus.
  Romans 8: 28-29 speaks of the commitment God has for our transformation into His sons likeness. 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers'.

We are destined to be more like Jesus. It also states that 'all things' work together for good for those who love Him - this should fill us with confidence that with God there is no time wasted in life. But that God uses life to help shape and mould us. In gold refining it is said that a goldsmith will know when the precious metal is at its purest form when he can see his reflection in the metal. It is the same with God, He is committed to seeing His reflection in us!

It is our challenge today to not only understand why God blesses us but to also realize the importance of the 'Paternal Blessing' in our lives. I remember once reading a story about a Father in Mexico who was estranged from his son. This Father, wanting to make amends, but not knowing how to contact his son posted a small advert in the local news paper:

'Pablo, this is your Father, I am sorry I left you, I am sorry for hurting you. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me please meet me at the steps of the town hall at 3pm today'.

As the Father approached the town centre, both nervous and excited to see if his son would meet him, he was met by a crowd of 350 young men. All named Pablo, all looking for their Father.

The truth is we all want to know that 'we are ok with Dad' - we all want to know that we have a Father to approve of us, for who we are, not just what we do, what we have or what we achieve. Bob, a man business man and Father, once sat in a room with his counselor, on the verge of losing everything - his family, house, business. He was on the edge of a breakdown and he shouted at the counselor, "He was right!" The counselor who was intrigued and confused by this seemingly unlinked comment asked the man to explain himself, the business man replied, "He was right, my Father, he always said I would mess it all up." Bob lived in the shadow of his Father's comment, he lived a life aimed at proving his Dad wrong - a life starved of the 'Paternal Blessing.'

Maybe today, as you have read this, you have realized that you have unfinished business with your earthly Father. Maybe you have realized that the shadow you are living in cripples you and shapes the way you see God and the way you do life. Perhaps today you have realized you need to forgive and release your earthly Father from any blame or disappointment - the truth is that your Dad fathered you the way he did as a result of him being fathered they way he was. Or maybe you have been challenged to take a sibling out of a 'well' or perhaps you have been prompted to forgive someone who placed you in a 'well'. I encourage you - seize the day, take this opportunity to resolve issues you have had with your Father. Take this opportunity to connect with God, as your Father - sit with Him, in the knowledge that He says to you today and forever;

'This is my child, in whom I am well pleased'