“God is the ultimate Father. He has given us the greatest example of how to lead, love, serve and guide the family He has blessed us with.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 16, 2024
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12
We will take time today to celebrate the men in our lives who are fathers. A father is a child’s first male role model. What a great responsibility to have! There will be others who will be missing their fathers who are now in Heaven. Then, there are those who may have never grown up with a father in their life, which may bring about a host of other feelings. Thankfully there is one father we can always count on – our Heavenly Father. He will never leave us nor forsake us. When I think of the word Father, there are a couple of words that immediately come to mind: Strong. Protector. Provider.
STRONG: Fathers create a strong foundation for their children. There are many ways a father can be strong – physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. In my younger girl mind, I think back to my own father who valiantly fought in WW II and was honored with a Bronze Star for his extraordinary service and sacrifice for our country. I imagine how strong he was to have made it through that war. I was the baby in the family and had a special relationship with my dad. When he ran ahead to heaven at the early age of 57, my 17-year-old self wasn’t quite ready for that. But that’s when my Heavenly Father stepped in, cradled me in His arms, and showed me how I could count on Him to be my father.
PROTECTOR: A Father is a steadfast shield around us, just like David spoke of in Psalm 3:3 “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” A father is the one who keeps all the bad things far away from his children. He comes in and checks under the bed and chases all the boogey-men away when it’s dark and scary. Fathers possess an innate instinct within them to ensure the safety and well-being of their family, safeguarding that their children feel secure and protected at all times. He diligently keeps his family from harm and adversity, in every way.
PROVIDER: A father often works tirelessly to provide for his family. He may work long hours at a job which requires him to travel and is often away. A father’s responsibilities are never ending. When you’re a young father, you may be working one job, while continuing your education to pursue other opportunities for advancement. When my husband was a young father, he worked a full-time job during the week and a part-time job on the weekends. He did this as he completed his undergraduate degree, then again when he went on to get his Masters – all while raising 2 young boys.
God is the ultimate Father. He has given us the greatest example of how to lead, love, serve and guide the family he has blessed us with. Fathers, and father figures, we are so very grateful for you!
“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching” (Proverbs 4:1-2).
Prayer
Lord, thank you for being my Heavenly Father. You are the one who is always near, forever protecting, guiding and directing each step along my path. You are a father to all and the one we can always count on.
Application
Reach out to your father or a father figure in your life today. Let him know how much he means to you.
Related Reading
Psalm 127:3-5; Exodus 20:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12; Ephesians 6:1-4
Worship Resource
Chris Tomlin: Good, Good Father
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