When God wanted us to know Him and could have revealed Himself in any image, He chose the image of a Father.
Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (NIV)
In recognition of this special relationship and its potential, God gave each child an earthly father. Besides the responsibilities of provision, protection and preparation for life, the father is designed to be a reflection of God. It is God’s plan that every person will come to know Him in their childhood years and continue valuing Him throughout their adult lives by seeing and hearing Him reflected in the life of their earthly father.
The way a child sees their father is often the way they see God. And the relationship one has with a father can and many times does color their relationship with God. A poor father image is a difficult, but not impossible thing to change. Children are super impressionable.
As far as my children were concerned, my voice was the voice of God for their young lives. I believed that God intended it to be that way and so I worked very hard to make it that way. I paid attention, was consistent, spoke clearly, kindly and was firm with love and grace. Now, in their mature years, leading their own families, they still seek my counsel for life’s major decisions.
Early on Brenda and I bought into the reality that the way we treated our children would be how they would grow up expecting God to treat them. And as well, the way we allowed our children to treat us would most likely be how they would treat God. And one more thing, just for good measure … the way our children saw their parents treating one another would be a difficult pattern for them to avoid in their future. So, we dedicated our lives to becoming what we were created to be … reflections of God. And, we are still working on it.
Early in 1998 both my son and my daughter married only eight days apart. My son joined the USAF and my daughter moved to
That first day afterwards, my wife and I were home feeling all alone and she found me crying. Being the good wife she is, she attempted to comfort me. With her hugs she asked me what was wrong. Through my sobs I told her that I felt lost and had just realized for the first time that all I ever wanted to be was a father. What, I asked her, was I going to do with the rest of my life?
Now, looking back on this last decade, seven grandchildren later, I understand God so much better. His motives are so much clearer and His counsel proven. I realize now more than ever the importance of those early years but also I understand that you don’t stop being a father just because children grow up and leave home. A father is a father forever, as mine still is to me, even beyond the grave.
Today is Father’s Day in the
Turn with me in your bible to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1. This morning I will be reading from the New King James Version. I want to invite each of you watching today to get your bible or follow along in scripture with us on the screen as we read from God’s Word.
Luke 1
26 ¶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."
38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
This passage has so many applications for life however, for the sake of our topic this morning, I offer the most basic of interpretations.
Mary has just been asked to bear the Son of God and she said yes!
There are three things we will discuss this morning that make a father’s day.
The first thing that makes a father’s day is simply this:
#1. When the woman you choose, chooses you.
No man can be a father, in any biological sense, without some woman becoming a mother. Fatherhood begins with a joining of lives together as family. In this sense: a father requires a mother; a happy father requires a happy mother; a successful father requires a successful mother … family is designed to begin and continue strong by choice.
The second thing that makes a father’s day deals with the child’s attitude towards the father. This too can often be the result of a mother’s willingness, and demonstration of respect and support.
Luke 2:49 (Jesus said to His mother) “… Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?"
John 8:29 “I always do those things which please My Father”
John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.” (Identification)
* Its when your child is not ashamed or afraid of you
* Its when your child does not deny you but chooses to associate with you and wants to be around you & work with you
* That makes a father’s day!
#2. When your child proudly says, “That’s my father!”
Every time a child, young or grown up, chooses to identify with, embrace or value the relationship with their father, it makes his day.
#3. When others choose you to be their father.
From Queen Esther who chose to have a father-daughter relationship with Mordecai, to Elisha and Elijah’s relationship or that of Joshua and Moses, or Boaz and Ruth, each person needs another person on whom they can rely to be a reflection of God in their life.
1 Corinthians 4:15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
Every Timothy needs a Paul and every Paul needs a Timothy to be fulfilled. (I Timothy 1:18 – “son Timothy”)
What makes a father’s day? It’s not the tie, the shirt, some new socks or the new tools from sears that makes a father’s day.
* Its the chance you give us to live the father’s life.
* Every day I get to be a father is father’s day for me.
* Its the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah:
Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.
God has designed it so that man cannot be a father unless someone chooses him and continues choosing him.
In the same way, God cannot be your Heavenly Father unless you choose Him and He cannot perform the joys of Fatherhood unless you continue choosing Him.
I have a word to those of you watching or listening this morning about what can you do to make this a great father’s day? You see …
All God ever wanted to be was a Father. So, choose God, fulfill His dream and … don’t forget about us earthly fathers … we have dreams too! Father’s day won’t happen by itself and fathers won’t be happy just because it’s the second Sunday in June. You make our father’s day.
In conclusion I have a word to you fathers … I borrow what Phillip said to Jesus - a bit out of context perhaps, but true nonetheless:
John 14:8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied."
Your family, your community and your world will benefit from the Father in you --- satisfy us --- Show us The Father … the father in you!
Be a reflection of God to a world that needs fathers.
Let’s stand and Pray For Our Fathers all over the world today.
