I am writing this on Father’s Day. When this is published it will be a few days after our celebration of Dad’s. But we should never forget the importance of Fathers.
Fathers fulfill a special role in our lives. I’ll never forget how my father eased my fears as a child. I knew he was strong; I knew I he could be trusted, and I knew that he cared for me. So, whenever I started to feel afraid, that fear slowly passed as I was comforted simply by my father’s presence.
Psalms 103:13 says, “Like a parent feels compassion for their children— that’s how the LORD feels compassion for those who honor him” (CEB). In the same way, as our earthly fathers do, our Heavenly Father has our best interests at heart. He loves us unconditionally and cares for us more than we could ever comprehend. We may also have spiritual mentors who fulfill father figure roles. They can impart great wisdom regarding our faith. The apostle John was a spiritual mentor to many. In 3 John 1:4, he writes, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (ESV). We show respect and we bring joy to our fathers on earth and our Father in heaven when we honor them and their guidance in this life.
God blesses us richly through His role as our Father. In Matthew 7:9, Jesus says, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (NIV). God gives us beautiful things in life, and we should always be grateful to Him. The greatest blessings we receive in this life come straight from His hands. We should honor every father and father figure in our lives, especially our Father in heaven. For those of us who are fathers ourselves, we should approach our role with seriousness and responsibility. When we live out that role with love and wisdom, we are reflecting God’s image within us. Whether fathers ourselves or not, our Heavenly Father is our ultimate example in everything. We should strive to emulate Him in all we do.