Father God
In the Bible, there are no good examples of human fathers. They all messed up in one way or another at some point. In contrast to the shortcomings of earthly fathers, Father God represents all the qualities that biological fathers often lack patience, kindness, firmness, and attentiveness.
Our understanding of God as Father is shaped by the fathers we have known, especially our own parents. Many people struggle to trust God as their Father due to painful experiences with their own dads, like rejection or inconsistency. Unfortunately, some earthly fathers can be insensitive or overly critical, which negatively shapes our perceptions of fatherhood. However, it’s important to remember that God embodies all the qualities we wish for in a parent—and so much more! He is endlessly patient, always present, kind, supportive, and protective. This perspective allows us to view God as the “perfect parent,” truly embodying what every parent should strive to be. With love and grace, Jesus came to live, die, and rise again, making it possible for us to become cherished children of God. Embracing this truth can lead to a profound sense of hope and belonging!
Read John 20:17; 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1 NIV).
The door into this wonderful relationship with God is his everlasting love and amazing forgiveness.
Psalm 103:8-14. 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 For He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 The wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
God welcomes us into His forever family, whether we have been good children or imperfect children.
Luke 15:11-24; 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger one said to his father, Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So, he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country, and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.” But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate.”
Sometimes the problem for Christians is that we can forget that we are God’s children and have a loving heavenly Father.
Luke 15:25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So, his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
How wonderful is love like this!
God our Father provides for our physical needs
Matthew 6:25-34; 25
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
God the Father also provides for all our spiritual needs.
Ephesians 1:3 says, “Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. “
In the Gospels, we see that Jesus frequently referred to God as “Father.”
Four times in Mark, forty-four times in Matthew, fifteen times in Luke, and one hundred and nine times in John.
Jesus’ relationship with the Father serves as a model for our own relationship with Him.
In all of Paul’s letters, he opens each one by referring to God as
the Father of Jesus Christ,
the glorious Father, and
the Father of mercies.
Jesus also called God “Abba,” and the Holy Spirit gives us the privilege of calling God “Abba” as well.
It is noteworthy that Jesus Himself used the Aramaic title “Abba” for His Father while in prayer during His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Mark 14:36, He prayed, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
In simple terms, “Abba” means “Dear Father.”
It is through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we ultimately reach a point where we sincerely refer to God as “Dear Father,” “Abba!”
Romans 8:15-17 reads, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”
Knowing God as Father affects the way we pray.
In Luke chapter 11, Jesus was teaching his disciples how to pray
In Verse 2, He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Verse 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Currently, we see everything dimly, but one day we shall see our Father God face to face.
May you feel his presence in a special way on this Father’s Day.
Amen!
Dr Robert Bryant