To All Fathers

Jesus called God His Father. Actually He came Him, "Our Father."

This was new revelation. A good Jewish boy would have never made God so familiar. But Jesus wanted us to know He is not only our Father but He is a Good Father. Later in Paul's letter to the Romans, he refers to God as our "daddy."


Fathers.... I think in order to be good father we first must learn what it means to be a good son. We can't father sons if we don't know how to be a son of our Father.

There is an amazing illustration given by Jesus of the fatherhood of God. This parable (or story) is called the parable of the prodigal son.

There is a younger son and an older son. The younger son rebels against his father. He asks for his share of the inhertiance and moves to a far country. Meanwhile, back of the ranch, the older son is working hard. "Earning his right as a son." Years go by and the younger son runs out of money. He decides to return home. Not as a son. But as a slave, as a servant. But while the son was a long way off the Father saw him. He ran to the son, not to kick his butt but to welcome him back into the family. The Father then procedded to throw him a party.

Yet the Older Son, in his pride, remains outside the party. The Father goes out to the Son and begs him to return to the party to celebrate his brother who was "Dead and blind" but is now "Alive and can see"

We are left at the end of the story with a big fat QUESTION MARK. What will the older son do? Will he be stubborn or will he enter into relationship?


So Friends, fellow Fathers (and mothers) how then shall we live?


Main Points 

1) Do you know you are a son?

Do you see God has your heavenly father?
Do you see God as the best possible father?

We cannot love our sons and daughters well if we do not know we are loved beyond measure by God himself.

2) Do we know we are welcomed home?

When we screw up, when we sin, etc

Do we know we have a place in our families? Or do we think we are failures? Do we think we need to "earn back" our families and God's approval?

If we are trying to earn approval from God and from others it will never come.


3) And Finally do we allow grace for others.

Or are we like the older brother?

The older brother did the "right thing for the wrong reasons" He did the right things because he wanted to earn favor from the father. He had no room for grace toward his brother because he didn't know he needed grace and forgiveness.


Fathers, I pray this Father's Day weekend you spent time with your families, I pray you ate a steak (or at least hamburger), I pray you played some cornhole.

But most of I pray you will know you are a son. I pray you will know that God can be your Father and as you embrace the Father's heart He will teach you how to father your children.

Try Harder

When I was in Youth Group, Brian and I had an inside joke going for years. When we played hockey or basketball and one of us made a hustle play we would say, "Dude, You try too hard."

We love rooting for the underdog that tried really hard and is where he/she is not because of natural talent but effort. And Effort is important. If you don't try you are not going to be successful at the majority of life.

But what happens when I try so hard that I don't take care of myself.....

Back Pack?!???

Imagine you are wearing a backpack. There is nothing inside the backpack. Just air. It's easy to carry.....

But then someone asks you do them a favor or two... okay... so you add a rock.

Each time someone asks you to do something for them you add a rock.

Not a problem! You are strong person. Until you start placing unrealistic expectations on yourself. And then that ONE PERSON. You know your co-dependent friend. Lay all of their burdens on YOU!

They take their backpack and ask, "Can you carry this for me?"

And of course, you do! You are such a nice person. But being nice can be tiring. And you continue to add more rocks and more responsibility and then.......you have a really heavy backpack.

You get the picture..right?


Back on track.

So what advice do I offer?

Two simple two of advice today for you.

1) Learn to say No.

I have learned I better if I can give 100% at the thing I am doing. If I cant give my all I try to say No. I am not perfect at this and I am still learning but as we pray and discern and think about our prioritises we can say Yes to important things and no to the less important.


2) Lean on Jesus

"Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."- Matthew 11:28


As we learn to say "No" I believe Jesus walks besides us and will take those dirty rocks out of our backpack. He will give us peace and rest in his presence.


Conclusion

We are steep in American Culture. Try Harder. Do More. Than you will be happy. But why be happy? Happiness is limited. It is short lived. Instead learn to be content. Content with your life. Content with what he is doing in your life and what He wants to do with you.

Yes, following Jesus, but not striving but relying. Not reaching but resting.

I pray that as you read this blog you are experiencing the peace of Jesus this summer. And if not I pray that He will teach you what it means to epxerence his goodness this summer! Amen.