We all know our dads fill an extremly important role in our lives. It is a proven fact that family life just isn’t the same without a father. The decline of the family in many homes in the world today is for the most part a result of a man who just isn’t around or is not a being a good man. Whats even worse is that some people don’t even know what a real father should be. Whole generations can be crippled because of this. The father figure is without a doubt a huge part of our lives.
Now if our fathers mean so much to us, how much more should our Heavenly Father mean to us. I think sometimes Christians don’t really KNOW who their Heavenly Fathers is. We know God as the righteous judge, the creator of heaven and earth, an incredible and powerful King and all those are true, but do we ever think of him as our father who we can come to, just to talk to, anytime, any place. A father is someone who cares, listens, gives advice, helps, teaches, comforts, and loves. All the the things we need to be secure. Sad to say we don’t always get that from our earthly fathers. Know this though, your Father in Heaven always gives you these things and he NEVER changes. He doesn’t love you on some days and other days feel like giving up on you. He is CONSTANT. He is a God of great love of mercy. Remember the story of the lost son? The son wanted to go out into the world and do his own thing. The father let him go and gave him the money that belonged to him. The son wasted all that was given him on “wild living.” When trouble came, he began to be in want, he came to his senses and became ashamed and condemed. He decided to return to his fathers house. Now this is important, the Bible says when he was still a LONG WAYS OFF, his father saw him. This must mean his father was LOOKING for his return wanting him to come home. The father didn’t wait for his son to come to him, no he ran to his son! The son confessed his sins and declared himself unworthy to be called his son anymore. The father however didn’t even pay attention to what the boy had to say about his failures, but instead told his servants to prepare a party because his son had returned. He treated his son with honor and respect as if he never had left or made a mistake. He said, “For my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” The same is true of our Father in Heaven, who loves us. We are His kids; all in the family of God. Don’t think of God as a judge who’s ready to “hit you over the head” when we make a mistake. Think of Him as a loving Father who’s ready to bring you back into fellowship with him; ready to show you kindness and mercy. And remember there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus(Romans 8:1).
