God has promised, in more than one place, to be our Father.  The benefits of such, however, are dependent upon our faithfulness.  To be faithful, we must avoid attaching ourselves to things that are sinful and contrary to the will of our Father.

2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 (ESV)
¹⁷  Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, ¹⁸  and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.  ¹  Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

To be children of God is a wonderful blessing.  It demonstrates that we are loved by Him.  John wrote, “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.”  Our membership in God’s family is a show of love, in that we were not physically born into it; instead, we were adopted by Him (Ephesians 1:5).  Paul tells us further that this adoption was according to the good pleasure of God’s will.  In other words, God arranged for our adoption because that was exactly what He wanted to do.

In the passage in 2 Corinthians, Paul was writing to those who were already children of God; thus, when he quoted God as saying, “I will be a father to you,” he was not indicating that it would be at that point that they would become God’s children, but rather that He would continue to treat them as His children as long as they continued to live holy lives.  How does a father treat his children?  He cares for them.

Matthew 7:9-11 (NKJV)
⁹  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? ¹¹  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Can you think of anyone who can care for you better than God?  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promised that God would provide all our needs, as long as we continue to put Him first in our lives.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
³³  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

When God promises to be our Father, we can rest assured that He will take care of us.  What a comfort it is, when traveling through the journey of life, to know that we have the greatest of all beings watching over us with a father’s love and concern.  But, let us not forget that a father not only cares for his children, but he also strives to keep them on the right path by admonishing them when they go astray, and, if needed, disciplines them. Hebrews 12:5-6 (NKJV)
⁵  And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; ⁶  For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.