Happy Father’s Day
I’m very grateful to God for my dad. He instilled in me a love for family, a passion for the arts, a gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy in this country, and a love for all L.A. sports teams.
As an only child, I felt (and still feel) the love my parents had for me. As I got older, I predictably took their love for granted and grew easily annoyed or contemptuous at times by their parental concerns.
But now as a father myself, I know what they felt and do feel. I know how my children feel when they get annoyed by my parental neuroses. And I know that tension in my heart where I don’t want to be that dad but at the same time can’t help but be that dad because I am that dad!
I confess there is no greater joy than being a dad. To get to love your own children and raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord is an awesome grace of God!
Dads – isn’t it such a kindness of the Lord to give us each a family? That we would be charged to care for the spiritual and physical well-being of each member? There is no higher call and no sweeter responsibility.
So, here are some thoughts about a dad who knows this grace in his soul:
1) Dads are the chief repenters in the home because they are the chief sinners in their own eyes (1 Tim 1:15). They see their sins as logs and the sins of others as specks (Matt 7:3-5).
2) Dads are the chief servants in the home because their Lord came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mk 10:45). They worship a King who regarded others as more important than Himself and thus put their interests ahead of His own (Phil 2:3-4). Dads are happy to serve around the house (or anywhere!) whatever the chore.
3) Dads are the chief listeners in the home because they have tasted God’s goodness in the gospel (1 Pet 2:3). So, dads spend time in God’s word because their first love is Christ. Dads sit at Jesus’ feet soaking Him in, knowing that this is the one thing necessary (Luke 10:42).
4) Dads are the chief followers in the home because they have been adopted as sons by God. So, they love their heavenly Father. They want to imitate Him as good sons. They align their hearts to the pulse of their Father’s – to think, desire, and will as He does. They don’t want to do anything that would grieve their Father. When they do, they quickly confess, keeping short accounts with Him.
Now, I can’t write these words without feeling low about my shoddy record of leading in these ways.
But in this moment, I remember how forgiving my Father is. How because of His Son’s work on the cross I am forgiven of every sin I confess and cleansed of all unrighteousness. And how because of the Holy Spirit in me, I know that I am His son, on my best days and yes, even on my worst. All these truths actually spur me on to love and good deeds as a dad.
One final word. . . For those of you who have or have had a rough relationship with your dad, please know that your heavenly Father always loves you.
He cannot and will not ever hurt you.
He always delights in you and loves to do you good all your days.
And not only does He always have your highest good in mind, but He also always does everything for your highest good (Rom 8:28-29, 32).
So, rest in the reality of His tender heart, and you will find a peace and joy like no other.