"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (Mat 6:9)
Here it is Father’s Day and for many it’s barbeque time and giving that practical gift to dad that he’s been hinting around for. But isn’t it great to know we have a heavenly Father and everyday is Father’s Day? And the gift we can give Him is . . . ourselves!
The Bible says we have been adopted into the family of God and we can now call God “Abba” (Rom 8:15). “Abba” was a common way young Jewish children addressed their fathers. It expresses intimacy, kind of like our word “papa” or “daddy”. It’s amazing that God first of all adopted us when we had nothing to offer Him except our sin and sorrow. But then to be allowed to call Him “Abba” . . . praise the Lord! How He loves us.
Some of us have had great experiences with our earthly fathers. They were firm but tender and gave us a lot of love and guidance. Others of us didn’t have such a great relationship with our fathers. He was either not present . . . or . . . present but not really there for his kids. But whatever the case may be with our fathers on earth, Jesus encouraged us to address God as “our Father in heaven”.
How wonderful it is to have the Almighty God of the universe fathering us. What a great job He does in:
- Being there for us (Hebrews 13:5)
- Providing for us (Philippians 4:19)
- Disciplining us (Hebrews 12:5-11)
- Protecting us (Psalm 46:1)
- Guiding us (Psalm 32:8)
Whether your earthly father is alive or not, if he is close or far away, nurturing or gnarly, remember you have a heavenly Father that just can’t keep His eyes off of you. He loves you through Christ His Son who is now your Savior. His eye is on the sparrow and how much more does He look out for you. So dear saint let me say to you . . . Happy Father’s Day!
Louie