The perfect love of a perfect Father

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

Father’s Day lands differently for many people. Not all may have, or have had, a good role model as a father. Honoring a father in such a situation can be difficult and seem almost impossible.

Let’s look at king David as a dad. Not a role model by anyone’s standard. His son Amnon forced himself on Tamar, his half-sister, and was murdered by his brother Absalom. David was angry but there were no consequences handed out to Amnon. His lack of disciplining his children also cost him another son, Absalom, who tried to kill David.

2 Samuel 13:21
But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

What about Eli as a father, the prophet chosen by the Lord to rule Israel for 40 years? His two sons are called sons of Belial.

1 Samuel 2:12
Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.

Imagine the gossip in church if the church leaders’ children are blatantly sinful.

And then there was Samuel.  Anointed and chosen by the Lord to be a prophet to Israel, yet his two sons did not follow his footsteps in serving the Lord.

1 Samuel 8:1-3
When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. ² The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. ³ Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

We see in the above examples that these were mighty men of God, chosen, called, anointed, who were also dads. Their lives were significant, even though their parental skills can be held in question. Yet, they were deeply loved by the Lord and 2000 years later we are encouraged by their life story.

I would have never picked the above people as examples if I were to write a book on ‘How to raise your children God’s way’, yet the Lord loved them and they are mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours and we will never fathom His divine love, grace and mercy toward us.

It can be so tempting to blame your dad if you are left with unresolved issues and hurts from his parenting style or lack thereof. The blame-game is the enemy’s tactic to keep you tethered to the ‘what-could-have-been’s’. If you give yourself  permission to linger in this place you will fail to see God’s grace that weaves through your own life as a dad . Being a good father comes with many challenges and is not an easy task.

When you receive God’s love and strength in your own role as a father, it is easier to love your children, and forgive your own father if he has not fulfilled that responsibility in your life.

Psalm 68:5
A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Our heavenly Father loves us unconditionally, for who we are in Christ Jesus and not what we do. A perfect Father with a perfect love for His children.  A Father who constantly wants to spend time with us. He woos us away from the busyness of the day, from our to-do-lists, the tyranny of the urgent. In fact, He calls us away even from ministry work, just so we can be in fellowship with Him.

Whatever the story is on our journey with our earthly father, it is our choice to remain in the hurts of our past and/or present, or take the extended hand of God and cross over to healing and restoration.

Forgiving, letting go and moving forward is the best gift you can give your dad and yourself on Father’s Day. Regardless, we all truly have a reason to celebrate Father’s Day, because our Father in heaven is perfect, flawless and He is praiseworthy, who calls us sons and daughters, and sacrificed His only Son to reconcile us to Himself.

Happy Father’s Day!.

In His Service,

Sohani Faria

Director
Sound of the Lord Mission