SATURDAY, June 6, 2009                                                       READ: Ephesians 3: 14, 15                                                                                                        

GOD AND FATHERING

MEMORIZE: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named.”         Ephesians 3: 14, 15

A sociologist from Great Britain, Maureen Green, has written, “No one is taking notice of father. Father is being ignored by the experts. They are all too busy concentrating on mother. Man, as family man, as father, is rarely on the agenda. Father’s image has taken a plunge from the place of dignity of the Old Testament patriarchy. Today, if he is depicted in a television family program, he is usually shown as a buffoon.” She went on to explain that this is largely consequential; it is the result of the radical attitude adopted from the assumption that the idea of God, as father, is a mere projection of our wishful desires for someone on whom to depend in our childish immaturity. But now that we are more modern and come of age, there is now no need for that celestial provider and father-figure.

When I read that, immediately, I began to ask and to attempt to engage these radical thinkers in asking, tell me where did the idea to project a father-figure, instead of a mother-figure, a brother-figure or a sister-figure originate? I began to ask, where did the idea of father originate? Also, why would the belief in a heavenly father have to be the product of immaturity and childishness?

According to our text, Ephesians 3: 14, 15, the whole notion of family, began with God. It was God who brought family into being and named it, giving it is identity. God, the Father, did not get His name nor His father-role from us. God is not a figment, nor projection of our imagination. The fact of father being the beginner of each human family was not designed by culture or society, but by God Himself.

If the father-role was designed by God to serve the divine purpose, and receives its charter from God, then the attack upon father and the father-role, must, of necessity be an attack on God Himself. God, the Father, is the ultimate Father. He is in the process of building His household, saving those who yield their hearts to Him, acknowledging His only begotten Son, as His Son, and as their Savior and LORD, and equipping them to live in His house forever more. No human father is perfect. Only God is perfect and does everything well. Our human fathers have failed us. Each of us have failed our children in one way or another. To be hung up on the failures of our human fathers, and to allow unforgiveness and resentment to discolor our view of God, our Heavenly Father, is not beneficial nor advantageous. God still wants us to honor our father and mother. Come to God, and thank Him for being Father and for having given you a father. Bow the knee to Him and give your hurts and disappointments to Him! If your human father has failed to be father to you, you can rely on God and trust Him to make it up to you. Bow the knees to God as Father and embrace Him! Trust Him for healing and restoration! He can give you a brand new start. Will you trust Him for that?

PRAY: LORD, God Almighty, thank You for being Father. When I receive Jesus as my LORD and Savior, I enter Your family and household. You become my Father. I accept You as my Father in Heaven. I will rejoice in You and trust You to be all that You want to be to me. I bless You, LORD, in Jesus’ strong name. Amen.