We come again to another turn in the yearly cycle where we have celebrated a New Year, Valentine's Day, the entrance of Spring, Motherhood, Veterans, and soon, Fathers.
As I am a father it is a bit more personal for me. As well, we welcomed our 4th boy into the world just three weeks ago. This is a very special Father's Day indeed.
The greatest challenge we have as dads is to realize that a very high standard has been set up for us. The God of this universe is referred to as, "Father." His place in our existence is such as Creator and originator. James tells us plainly that from Him comes all that is good in our lives.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17
We have the classic passages where Christ describes the generosity and fairness of God. Where God is seen as a loving Father who would not withhold any good thing from His child.
"Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:9-11
I also take note of what Christ had said just prior to that passage.
Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
Mark Twain is credited as once saying that when he was 13 he realized how stupid his father was, but by the time he reached his 20's he couldn't believe how smart his father had become.
Our job as fathers is not to seek the approval of our children. We are to seek the approval of God, our Father. We are not here to emulate man's philosophy of raising children, but we are to emulate the philosophy of God in how He seeks to raise us into the image of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. Our ministry is such as the Father has for us. May we as fathers look to stop being selfish, self-centered, and more enamored with the reflection of our faces in the mirror of God's Word. May it reveal our faults, but may we then seek from that same book to rectify our lives according to the truth of God. Let's live each day as fathers. Let's live each day in such a way that our heavenly father is seen in us for our children's sake and for the rest of the world to see.
