Our Fathers

If your dad is still walking the sod of this earth, and you have any kind of relationship with him, be sure to give him a shout-out and wish him “Happy Father’s Day”. We all know our fathers were huge failures in our upbringing, but in all fairness, as a father, I didn’t do much better. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, the jury is still out as to it being inherited or self-inflicted, and there is so much I would do differently now that I have the wisdom and maturity to “get it right,” but a do-over isn’t going to happen. “He did the best he knew how to do it,” my brother once told me. Yeh, me too. Love ya, Dad.

If I went shopping for a dad, Here is what I’d buy: One who would always stop, To answer a little child’s “Why?” One who would always speak kindly, To a little girl or boy. One who would give to others, A bit of sunshine and joy. I’d pick a dad that followed The  Bible’s Golden Rule; And one who went regularly, To church and Sunday school. I’d buy  the very finest dad, To place on our family tree; And then I’d try to live like him, So he  would be proud of me. Helen Kitchell Evans

[Proverbs 23:13-25] In giving the “model” prayer Jesus said, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...” (Matthew 6:9). God is called Father by Jesus no fewer than one-hundred and sixty times. The expression “Our Father in Heaven” is one of the greatest Bible statements. Jehovah is truly our Father in heaven. * God has the heart of a father. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13). God has compassion on His children and will do far more for them than any earthly father ever could or would do for us. God’s mercy shines when He is seen as a Father with His children whom He has compassion. * God has the house of a father. Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John l4:2). Christians have an eternal abiding place or a room in the “Father’s House.” The blessings waiting in the Father’s House are beyond our ability to grasp, but through the eye of faith we see! (Galatians 3:11). * God has the love of a father. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The love of God for sinners caused the giving of the greatest gift ever given. God’s Son was given as a sacrifice for our sins. God’s love touches every moment of our life. His love is that of our Father in Heaven. * God has the tenderness of a father. “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11). God is pictured as full of compassion and tender mercies. * Because God is Father and has great love for mankind, He has provided forgiveness of sins through Christ’s death. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace...” (Ephesians l:7). God is your Father if you are His child through humble obedience. To be saved from sin, hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Mark 16:16), repent of your sins (Luke l3:5), confess Jesus as Lord (Matthew 10:32), and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4). God has the heart of a Father, the house of a Father, the love of a Father and the tenderness of a Father. Can you truthfully say, “Our Father in Heaven”. Do you tell Him you love him?