TAGLISH: Revelation of God As Father (Mike Connell)

Devotional

Day 1: Mud-Stained Embrace

Jesus knelt in the dirt as the leper cried “Unclean!” His scarred hand touched oozing flesh. The crowd recoiled, but Christ leaned closer. “I am willing,” He declared. Demons fled. Shame dissolved. For the first time, the man felt clean. [21:12]

Jesus’ touch rewrote the leper’s identity. Where religion built walls, He demolished them. His compassion wasn’t theoretical - it smelled of sweat and infection. The Father’s heart beats in Christ’s hands.

You’ve hidden wounds, fearing rejection. But Jesus walks toward your mess, not away. Let Him touch what embarrasses you. Where have you believed your failures make you untouchable to God?

“Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be cleansed!’”
(Mark 1:41, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to touch the specific shame you’ve kept hidden this week.

Challenge: Write one sentence naming your “unclean” area, then physically place the paper where you’ll see it daily (mirror, wallet).

Day 2: Ox and Tent

Moses stood trembling as God’s glory-cloud descended. The Almighty declared His name: “Yahweh, Yahweh, compassionate and gracious.” Strength (ox) met family (tent). The same God who split seas whispered fatherhood. [13:40]

God’s power exists to nurture, not intimidate. The Hebrew letters reveal His heart - He is both warrior and caregiver. Jesus later embodied this, toppling demons while cradling children.

Your view of God shapes your freedom. Do you flinch before a taskmaster or run to a protector? What single lie about God’s character most hinders your trust?

“The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, proclaiming the name of the Lord. ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious...’”
(Exodus 34:5-6, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one way you’ve misrepresented God’s character to others this month.

Challenge: Text someone today: “How have I misrepresented God to you?” Listen without defending.

Day 3: Pigpen Promise

The prodigal choked on hog slop, rehearsing his speech. But before “Forgive me” left his lips, the father crushed him in a hug. Rings replaced rags. The feast began. [39:54]

Shame expected lectures. Love threw parties. The father didn’t sanitize the story - he celebrated the son’s survival. Your worst chapters become God’s redemption material.

What failure do you keep rehearsing that God has already buried? Who needs to hear your “I survived” story this week?

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
(Luke 15:20, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for three specific ways He’s used your past pain to help others.

Challenge: Share one sentence of hard-won hope with a younger person today.

Day 4: Prisoner to Prince

Joseph stood in Pharaoh’s court, shackle-marks still visible. The same hands that once wore chains now held Egypt’s seal. His betrayal became a rescue plan. [41:32]

God doesn’t erase scars - He anoints them. Joseph’s authority came from tested faithfulness. Your past humiliations are preparation for future authority.

What present limitation might be God’s setup for influence? When did a past disappointment later become a divine appointment?

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand.”
(Genesis 41:41-42, ESV)

Prayer: Name one current limitation and ask God to reveal its purpose.

Challenge: Write today’s date on your palm - remember it as the day your prison turned to platform.

Day 5: Calf and Celebration

The fatted calf sizzled as musicians tuned up. The father danced with his mud-caked son, drowning the elder brother’s protests with laughter. Restoration smells like roast meat. [42:39]

God throws better parties than we do. He celebrates current transformations, not past perfections. The kingdom advances through joy, not judgment.

What joy have you muted because it seemed “inappropriate”? When did you last dance unselfconsciously before God?

“Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”
(Luke 15:23-24, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to give you His laughter over a situation that’s made you somber.

Challenge: Do something celebratory today (blow bubbles, eat cake) to mark God’s ongoing work in you.

Sermon Summary

Ang pahayag ng Ama ang bumubukas bilang tema. Ang Biblia mismo ay isang gradual at progressive na kuwento kung saan ang Ama ay nagpapakilala sa pamamagitan ni Jesus, at pagkatapos ay sa pamamagitan ng mga anak na lalaki’t babae na binabago at sinusugo. Si Jesus ang expressed image ng invisible God; kaya kung nakita si Jesus, nakita ang Ama. Ang “Ab” sa Hebrew ay may larawan ng ox at tent: strength at house. Kaya ang Ama ang source ng identity, life, provision, protection, guidance, at discipline. Hindi ito theory lang; ito ang ugat ng kung sino ang tao.

Sa Sinai, ipinahayag ng Panginoon ang Kanyang Pangalan. Ang kaluwalhatian ay hindi lang thunder; ito ang Kanyang goodness na lumalapit, “merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love.” Pero ang katotohanang iyon ay naka-sandwich kasama ng Kanyang justice. Hindi Niya binabalewala ang kasalanan, pero hindi rin Niya tinatanggal ang Kanyang habag. Ang Ama ay both greatness and goodness, power and mercy, order and overflowing compassion.

Si Jesus ay hindi lang “gentle baby” o “patay na Jesus” sa alaala. Si Jesus ay malakas at mabagsik laban sa marumi, at malambot sa wasak ang loob. Hinawakan Niya ang ketongin at nilinis, dahil ang Kanyang compassion ay gumagalaw, hindi manonood lang. Kaya pag dinala sa Kanya ang basag na puso, sinusunog Niya ang mga pader ng rejection at abuse, at binabaha ng pag-ibig ang kaluluwa. Minsan, isang totoong encounter lang ang kailangan para lumuwas ang grief, at sumunod ang mga nagdudumihing spirito.

Sa Lucas 15, ang piling ng sinners at tax collectors ay lumapit, at ang religious ay nagreklamo. Kaya nagkuwento si Jesus ng tatlong nawawala: tupa, salapi, at anak. Layer by layer, inilalantad ng mga larawan ang puso ng Diyos at ang kondisyon ng reklamadong puso. Ang bunso ay bumagsak hanggang sa babuyan, isang nakakapanginig na larawan ng uncleanness sa pandinig ng mga Judio. Pero ang Ama ay tumakbo, hinalikan, binihisan ng best robe, pinasuot ng sandal, at siningsingan na parang si Jose na binigyan ng signet para sa public matters. Iyon ang restoration ng authority at identity. Ang Diyos ay hindi nagsa-celebrate ng failures; ang Diyos ay nagsa-celebrate ng pagbabalik. Samantala, ang panganay na “goody-goody” ay naiwan sa dilim ng inggit, ayaw sumali sa sayaw at sa party. Pero ang order ng Ama ay joy: “patay na, ngayon ay nabuhay; nawala, ngayon ay natagpuan.” Ang tawag ng kuwento ay simple pero matalim: hayaan ng anak na yakapin ng Ama ang hiya, at tanggapin ang singsing ng awtoridad at ang sayaw ng bahay.

Key Takeaways

1. The Father is source and house [11:08] The Hebrew Ab paints a concrete picture: strength for a family. Fatherhood is not a title; it is origin, covering, and direction. Identity grows sturdy when strength is received from the One whose heart builds a home. [11:08]
2. Jesus shows the Father fully [11:42] The Son does not give a blur of God but a face. His compassion has muscle, His touch cleanses what law can only quarantine. To stare at Jesus is to let the Father rewrite what “holy” and “near” mean. [11:42]
3. Love that heals breaks shame [08:20] When the King’s hand reaches the heart, walls of rejection crack and the rot comes out. That exposure is mercy, not humiliation, because love is cleaning house. What breaks a person is not tears but lies; what makes them whole is the voice that names them “son.” [08:20]
4. The party is the point [42:14] Heaven’s math is not merit but mercy, so the soundtrack is music, not murmuring. The robe, ring, and sandals say, “Back in the family,” not “Probation.” To refuse the dance is to refuse the Father’s heart. [42:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Warm honor and greetings
[01:44] - Theme: Revelation of the Father
[02:14] - Scripture as progressive unveiling
[11:08] - Hebrew Ab: ox and house
[11:42] - Jesus, image of the invisible God
[12:35] - Exodus 34: Name and nearness
[13:40] - Mercy and justice together
[18:45] - Not baby Jesus only
[19:14] - Leper cleansed by compassion
[25:11] - Sinners draw near, critics complain
[27:21] - Lost sheep and lost coin
[28:04] - Shocking descent of the prodigal
[38:08] - Identity shattered among the pigs
[41:32] - Ring, robe, sandals restored
[42:14] - The Father celebrates restoration
[49:12] - Closing blessing and belonging

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Lucas 15:11-24 (Ang Talinghaga ng Alibughang Anak)
- Exodo 34:5-7 (Ang Pagpapahayag ng Pangalan ng Panginoon)
- Colosas 1:15 (Si Jesus bilang Larawan ng Diyos)

Observation questions

Sa Lucas 15:11-24, anu-ano ang mga konkretong hakbang na ginawa ng ama para ipakita ang pagtanggap sa bumabalik na anak?
Ayon sa Exodo 34:6-7, paano inilarawan ng Panginoon ang Kanyang sarili kay Moises? Anong mga katangian ng Diyos ang binigyang-diin?
Sa sermon, ano ang ibig sabihin ng “singsing,” “balabal,” at “sandalyas” na ibinigay ng ama sa anak? [41:32]
Paano ipinakita ni Jesus sa Kanyang pakikitungo sa mga ketongin at makasalanan ang kombinasyon ng kapangyarihan at habag ng Ama? [19:14]

Interpretation questions

Bakit mahalaga na “tumakbo” ang ama para salubungin ang anak sa Lucas 15:20? Ano ang mensahe nito tungkol sa pagtanggap ng Diyos sa mga nagbabalik-loob?
Paano nagkakasundo ang hustisya at habag ng Diyos batay sa Exodo 34:6-7? Bakit hindi ito magkasalungat?
Sa talinghaga, bakit mas nagalit ang panganay na anak kaysa nagdiwang sa pagbabalik ng kapatid? Ano ang sinasabi nito tungkol sa puso ng mga taong “relihiyoso”? [28:04]
Paanong ang pagiging “larawan ng Diyos” ni Jesus (Colosas 1:15) ay nagpapabago sa ating pag-unawa sa kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng “banal” at “malapit” sa Diyos?

Application questions

Sa iyong karanasan, paano mo madalas hinaharap ang iyong mga pagkakamali: nagtatago sa hiya (tulad ng bunso) o nagmamataas sa sariling “kabutihan” (tulad ng panganay)? Anong hakbang ang maaari mong gawin para yakapin ang pagtanggap ng Ama? [42:14]
May mga pagkakataon ka na bang naramdaman ang habag ng Diyos sa gitna ng iyong kabiguan? Paano ka Niya pinatunayan na “hindi Siya nanonood lang” kundi kumikilos para sa iyo?
Kung ang “pagsasaya” ang punto ng kaharian (Lucas 15:32), paano mo ito maipapakita sa pagtulong sa ibang nagbabalik-loob sa Diyos? May kilala ka bang nagdudusa sa hiya at pangangailangan ng pagpapaalala ng Kanyang pag-ibig?
Sa iyong relasyon sa Diyos, alin ang mas malakas na pananaw mo sa Kanya: ang Diyos na “makapangyarihan” o “maawain”? Paano mo masusubukan ang Kanyang pag-ibig sa mga lugar ng iyong buhay na puno ng takot o pagkutya?
Paano mo masisimulang tanggapin na ang iyong awtoridad at halaga (tulad ng singsing at balabal) ay hindi nakadepende sa iyong performance kundi sa pagkilala ng Ama sa iyo bilang Kanyang anak? [41:32]

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