Last week’s Father’s Day was the time our nation has designated to celebrate and honor our earthy dads. It first occurred in America in 1910, to complement Mother’s Day but not declared a national holiday until Richard Nixon in 1972. However, honoring one’s parents goes back millennia to the Ten Commandments. God didn’t assign a particular day; He made it His fifth commandment. To further emphasize its importance, it is the only commandment of the ten with a promise. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you (Exo 20:12). Honoring our parents isn’t a one-day celebration it is a constant. Yet, the reality is Father’s Day or even the mention of one’s dad can bring a host of mixed emotions. Our reaction depends on the relationship we‘ve had with our dads—a good relationship will bring positive and loving feelings. Sadly, for those whose dads were distant, abusive, unsupportive, passive or out of the picture have either bad feelings or no feelings.
God chose to present Himself as a Father figure. Problems arise when people transfer their negative experiences with their dads and view the heavenly Father in the same way. Believers and especially new converts must ground themselves in the truth that God desires to relate to them as a perfect Father. He will never disappoint us, is always with us, will always love us, always help us, and never reject us. But why did God present Himself to humanity as a Father? He created the concept of the family with a father, mother, sons, and daughters. Why did He not portray Himself as a mother? Or why not merely present Himself as the all-mighty Supreme Being? He wanted a relationship with His children as a father would have. A dad’s connection with their children differs from the mother. He created Adam in His image with the ability to be a perfect dad. Sin changed this and since then no perfect human father has existed. Abraham, Moses, Lot, David, or Solomon, etc. all were far from faultless with their children.
For us to experience the fullness of a relationship with the heavenly Father, we must base our view of God on how the Bible presents Him. For some of us this is a long journey. For those who grew up with bad experiences with their dads, the process requires filtering out the negative, relearning, and experiencing His love—I’m still in this process. The first step is accepting that He desires an intimate relationship. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father” (Rom 8:15)! The Bible uses Abba three times and is an affectionate term speaking of the intimacy between a small child and their dad. It literally means daddy or papa. Choice of this word indicates that we can go to Him as children would run to their papas.
Human fathers have certain responsibilities even though too many refuse to assume those duties. Others may not always be able to meet the needs of their families. In contrast, the Lord takes full responsibility for His children. He knows our deepest needs and has infinite ability to care for us. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). Asaph wrote about God’s resources, For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills (Psa 50:10). The truth is—He owns everything. Jesus told us, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Lk 12:32 NKJV). Take note He supplies far more than our material necessities. He knows our mental needs, our spiritual needs, the needs of our unique personality, and the needs caused by our weaknesses. In other words, He is aware of our inmost requirements. Even when we don’t know how to pray as we should, the Spirit Himself intercedes for us (Rom 8:26). God receives joy and glory by taking care of us and supplying our needs.
The key: we must allow Him to care for us. My dad numerous times tried to give my wife and me money when he saw we needed something. I always refused because of pride not wanting him to think I was unable to care for my family. An essential aspect of receiving His care is accepting the truth we can’t earn His approval or love. We already have that. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood (Rom 5:8, 9). We can draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16). His unfailing love was what finally broke my stubborn resistance to a total commitment. When I fell down in the dirt of life, He didn’t come and scold me or tell me I’d really blown it this time. Rather, He reached down with His mighty hand, “Let Me help you up and brush you off and we’ll try this again.” Every day the Holy Spirit helps me understand, experience, and receive more and more of His unending love. He is my perfect Daddy.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Allow the Holy Spirit to wash away all the bad experiences with your dad and run to the open arms of your Perfect Father.