FATHER

devotional for Sunday 06/17/12, Father's Day

All of us have an earthly father, though not all of us know that person.  Some of those fathers are still living, some have passed away, others have disappeared from our lives.  Some of us have or had a great relationship with that father while others do or did not.  Some don't even know who their father was for various reasons, including those with sperm donor fathers.  Some have been raised by a "Dad" who is not their biological father.  However, all of us also have a Heavenly Father who is perfect and loving, but that relationship can be strained too.  It is never strained from God's end of the relationship - only from our human end, because we are NOT perfect.  It is helpful to remember that if we feel God has forsaken us, it is actually we who have abandoned God.  He will never leave us or forsake us!  

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you... The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 NIV

There are a lot of Bible verses with the word "father" in them - some referring to earthly fathers, others referring to God the Father.  There are those that give instruction to fathers and how they relate to their children...

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.  Colossians 3:21 NIV

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4 NIV

There are other verses that give guidance to children regarding their earthly fathers....

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you."  Exodus 20:12 NIV

And others that give instruction about our relationship with God the Father... 

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12 NIV

The Bible shows us how God is like our earthly fathers....

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13 NIV

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.” Psalm 103:13 NIV

And there are verses that confirm that our earthly relationships are not perfect, but our God is, and He cares for us...

Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Psalm 27:10 NIV

But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.  The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless...  You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.  Psalm 10:14, 17-18 NIV

Out of gratitude for this magnificent Father in Heaven, we glorify his name...

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2 NIV

Though the world often does not understand that we are the children of our heavenly Father...

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1 NIV

Whatever your relationship is with your earthly father, living or not, known or not, may you remember the Father above and honor him in all you do, especially on this Father's Day.  And may that special relationship shine a light to the world!

written by Jan Andersen