Judge and Father

The sermon this morning was so fitting for me. The message was certainly consistent with things God's been addressing in my heart lately. Will spoke from Luke 18 about the widow coming before the unjust judge first addressing the example of persistent prayer-seeking our Father for the provision of needs and desires. The widow represents the poor, the oppressed, the lowest in society. She had to seek justice for treatment of adversaries from an unjust judge. The judge made decisions based on personal comfort and not conviction. He had no regard for God or people which is a disregard for the great commandment to love God and people. We're supposed to relate to the widow in that we have no place or rights before God until we are adopted into His family. Even then, we can't appease God with our works.Unlike the widow, the judge we appeal to for justice, mercy and provision is also our Heavenly Father.
The message most resonated with me as Will pointed out that we so often look at God as the dealer of punishment and not nearly as much as a loving Father. I struggle with fear of man (people pleasing) which has also translated to my relationship with God. I love the truths God's engraving on my heart right now. Reminders that He is not only just, He is my Father. He wants me to come to Him when my heart needs gentleness and compassion as well as when I need to be refined.
Further into the passage, Will addressed Jesus' story of the Pharisee and the tax collector. He said this addresses a common lie so many Christians believe at some point in their walk; that works can earn favor with God.
My small group is currently doing a John MacArthur study on Hebrews. The lesson on Hebrews 4 echoed the truth of God's rest the same week.
"Applied to our relationship with God, to rest means no more self-effort as far as our salvation is concerned. It means the end of trying to please God by our feeble, fleshly works. God's perfect rest is a rest in free grace.
Rest can also mean a freedom from whatever worries or disturbs you. It means freedom from guilt over sin. It means no more shifting about in frustration from one thing to another, no more running in circles. It means remaining confident, keeping trust. To enter into God's rest means that for the remainder of our lives and for all eternity we can lean on God. Such rest is full, blessed, sweet, satisfying, and peaceful. Amazingly, this is what God offers us in Christ."
"Those who exercise faith in the message of God will enter into their spiritual rest. At salvation, every believer enters the true rest, he realm of spiritual promise, never again laboring to achieve through personal effort a righteousness that pleases God. God's rest includes His peace, confidence of salvation, reliance on the strength, and assurance of a future heavenly home (see Matt 11:29)"