Lent Series: The Father Who Engages Us

THE TAKEAWAY:

God is a responsible Father who knows how to partner with his children

THE MESSAGE:

Percy Jackson, the Disney series, not so much the movie, is a powerful story on the impact of a parent on a child. In this case, the parent is Poseidon, the god of the oceans. Percy has no connection to his dad, but all that changes when he learns that his father is a god, making him a demigod. Percy is whisked away to Olympus Camp, where he eagerly awaits his father to claim him, unaware that his father is Poseidon*. Percy forces Poseidon’s hand by making choice candy offerings and proving he has the power. Finally, when Poseidon outs himself as Percy’s father, he immediately recruits him in a dangerous mission to explore Hades and retrieve the lost lightning bolt. Thanks for nothing, dad!

*His mother has no idea who she met on the beach. Apparently, it’s rude to ask a god’s name after they impregnate you.

So far, Poseidon is not winning father of the year in Percy’s life. He is absent for most of Percy’s life, only noticing him when Percy is able to prove himself. And when he finally does reveal himself its because he needs something. I swear, the writer of Percy Jackson, Rick Riordan, is making Yahweh look like an amazing alternative to Greek gods.

But the story of God introducing himself to a human and recruiting them for an adventure isn’t exclusive to Greek mythology. Moses was tasked with commanding Pharaoh to free the Israelite slaves. David knew God would use him to slay Goliath and earn Israel’s gratitude. The main difference in this story and Percy’s is that God invests himself as a caretaker before recruiting one of his children. Percy needed to perform certain rituals to get Poseidon’s attention, while God initiated the meeting first. Moses relied on God’s power and guarantee to get the job done. David fully believed Goliath was destined to die by his hand. God did not need favors from these willing participants; instead, he chose them to show what he could do in the life of a follower.

This Lent, we reflect on our deep relationship with God, the Father, who does not want to remain distant or petty but wants an active role in our lives. He doesn’t need us because of our strength, yet he invites us to be part of his. In fact, the biggest obstacle to our relationship was him was sin, and he recruited his own “flesh and blood”, Jesus Christ, to overcome that. When God the Father wants to be near us, he doesn’t wait for us to earn it. When God involves us in a mission, he provides the solution.

REFLECT OVER IT:

Read: Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:10, Jeremiah 31:3, Zephaniah 3:17, Genesis 13:16, Exodus 3:8-10, 1 Samuel 17:32-37

  1. In each Bible verse, indicate if God is making the first move to establish a relationship or promising a solution to a problem
  2. As a Father, why would God choose to work with us if he can fix the problem Himself?
  3. What do you need in your relationship with God to see him as a loving father: to reach out to you? To partner with you on a task that is important to him?
  4. Choose one verse in the list and spend 1 minute reciting it in your head, breathing slowly and reflecting on God’s promise.

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