This Sunday is Father’s Day and I want to encourage you to spend the morning in the Father’s House. In the same way we earthly fathers like to hear our kids say “Thanks”, I’m sure our Heavenly Father likes to hear it from us.
I’ve been thinking about fatherhood a lot lately. My son graduated and is gone for the summer. My daughter is away on a mission trip. My wife and I are getting a foretaste of the empty nest and we’re not sure we like it. But with my son gone, I wonder about what kind of father I’ve been. Is he ready for the real world? Can he walk in spiritual power, but humbly before God? Does he know what the church is about? Does he know what marriage is about? Can he handle money?
I guess we’ll find out in the days ahead. All I know is that it’s too late to go back. That window is closed. And although it didn’t seem like it at the time, it closed quickly! Like slam on your fingers quick!
Anyway, God’s reminding me lately of a promise. Jesus said: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13, NIV)
I’ve tried to be a good dad – I’ve asked a lot, sought a lot, knocked a lot in relation to my kids. God loves them even more than I do – and he’s filled them with his Spirit because he wants them to succeed in life. So, as usual, it comes back to trust.
Dads – give it your best effort, but trust God to do the lion’s share of the work. You can count on him. Believe it or not, he loves your kids more than you do.
By the way, we have awesome gifts for fathers this Sunday. FIRST, every dad gets candy. No more complaining about mother’s day gifts being better than ours! SECOND, every dad that shows up will be in a drawing for things like steak dinner, tools, pocket knives… This would be a great day to bring a friend!
