By Tom Shanklin

As I was traveling north of Fargo, ND, yesterday on I-29, I saw one of those electronic signs from the Highway Department with these words, “YOUR DAD LOVES YOU! BUCKLE UP!”

I thought of the words from the lips of Jesus, “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” John 16:27, KJV.

Aw! What a breath of fresh air! What life-giving communication! Your Father loves you! It’s not just a religious phraseology. It’s truth. It’s power. The God of the universe loves you!

Jesus came to introduce us to His Father, so that He might be our Father.

He taught us about the Father’s love … about His willingness to answer our prayers … about what it means to be a child of God.

He said, “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name …” Luke 11:2, KJV.

He taught us about the goodness of our Father. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:11, KJV.

He wants to give you good gifts. He wants to lavish you with good things. He wants you to personally experience His love and goodness and provision every day.

His love changes everything. You have confidence! You are secure! You have value! Buckle Up! Your Dad Loves You!

Jesus not only taught about the Father’s love, He made the way for you to personally experience His love. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, His burial, His resurrection, and ascension, He opened the door for you to receive an inheritance in the Father’s house. If fact, through that mighty act, you receive everything that Jesus has. You are “joint heirs with Christ.”

When you receive Jesus, you receive the Father. His Dad becomes your Dad. It’s a miraculous transformation! “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12, KJV.

• You are forgiven!
• You are adopted!
• You are accepted!
• You are changed!
• You have new life!
• You have God’s life!
• You have power!

Believe in the Father’s love. Believe in the sacrifice of Calvary. He died so you would wouldn’t have to. He gave His life to redeem your life. Believe that Jesus came out from the Father to give you access to His family.

Give Him your life today! Confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. His Spirit will come into your heart crying, “Abba Father,” and you will comprehend what it means to be a child of God.

You are valuable! Your Dad loves you! Buckle Up!