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The Father’s Love

 

And he arose and came to his father.  But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.  And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.”  But the father said to his servants, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”  And they began to be merry.  Luke 15:20-24

            There is something special about a father’s love for his children.  There are of course men who have fathered a child but certainly do not fulfill the role of being a good father.  However, even with all of our imperfections, most of us strive to love our families.  And not to minimize the role of the mother in the home, a father’s love is vitally important in the life of a child.

            Josh McDowell recently made the statement that the one who has the most influence or “leverage” with a child is not a super hero or a star in some sport, but rather none other than dear “old” dad.  We usually have little or no idea of how powerful our influence is with our children.  We can influence them for good or evil, but we will influence them.

            Not everyone has fond memories or thoughts on Father’s Day.  Your father may not have shown you love.  He may have been abusive or simply ignored you.  Believe it or not, that has affected you.  We are “wired” to respond to the love of a father.  If you have never experienced that love, today I would love more than anything to introduce you to a Father who will never let you down and will love you unconditionally. 

            Isn’t it interesting that the infinite God of the universe has chosen to use the designation of a father to describe his relationship to us?  Fathers, do you realize how that creates an awesome responsibility?  The first concept of God that our children will begin to form will be based on our actions and attitudes. 

            The good news is that God has not left us on our own to figure out how to be the right type of fathers.  A study of the Scripture will reveal a vast store of information on being a godly father.  However, I believe that one of the best ways to understand this concept is to look at the example that Jesus gave us of the Father in the parable of the prodigal son.  As we examine the response of the father to his erring son, we will see characteristics that should be part of our lives as we deal with our children.

           

1.  THE FATHER’S LOVE SEEKS

            “…but when he was still a great way off, his father saw him…”

            Although the son had abandoned his home, despising his father even to the point of wishing that he was dead, the father continued to watch for his return.  That is how our God operates.  While we have sinned against him, He loves us anyway and desires for us to come home.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  1 Timothy 2:3-4

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

            A right relationship with the Father is made possible because of what God has done for us not by what we are trying to do for Him.  God sought us before we ever sought Him.  He initiated the process.

            In a similar way, a godly father will take the responsibility of doing all that he can do to point his children to Christ through prayer, living a godly life, and giving godly instruction.  When conflicts arise he will seek to restore broken relationships with his children.   His love will cause him to seek the absolute best for his children even when it takes him out of his comfort zone.

 

2.  THE FATHER’S LOVE FORGIVES

            “… and had compassion…”

            The prodigal had squandered his inheritance and now was coming home empty, broken, and filthy.  Yet the father ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him. 

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.  Isaiah 55:7  

            One of the great things about our God is how He forgives.  There is no sinner too sinful that God cannot forgive.  He means it when it says…

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.   Isaiah 1:18

            If God has forgiven us in such a way, how can we not forgive those who sin against us?  A godly father will practice forgiveness when he has been wronged.  That means he will not harbor resentment and bitterness especially towards his children, but will forgive quickly and completely because God will enable him to do so.

           

3.  THE FATHER’S LOVE CLEANSES

            “but the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him…”

            The father did not stop at forgiveness.  With forgiveness the son desperately needed cleansing.  He was filthy and his clothes no doubt tattered and filthy as well.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  Psalm 51:2

            Forgiveness involves God declaring us justified - cleansing involves the removal of the guilt.  This begins as we truly understand the extent of God’s forgiveness and grows as we are reminded of this truth through God’s word.

            A godly father will, through the power of God, forgive when sinned against and refuse to allow that offence affect his relationship.   Cleansing takes place when we do not bring up past offences and weaknesses.

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4

 

4.  THE FATHER’S LOVE EMPOWERS

            “…and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.”

            The son had rehearsed his speech about being made a servant, but the father would have none of that.  The ring represented the authority he had as a son and sandals indicated to everyone in the household that he was not a servant for servants did not usually wear sandals.  The father not only forgave and cleansed the son, but he gave him the ability to live as his son.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.  John 1:12

            A godly father will empower his children to be all that God intended for them to be.  He doesn’t do this by forcing into his own mold, but rather by prayerfully seeking God’s plan for their lives and carefully observing their gifts and talents.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6

 

5.  THE FATHER’S LOVE RESTORES

            “…for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

            God doesn’t just forgive, cleanse, and make it possible for us to live a new life; He brings that new life into existence.  He totally restores us.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17

            We may bear in our bodies the scars of past sin, yet in God’s eyes we are justified or just-as-if-we-never-sinned.  God is in the restoration business.  He can take the vilest sinner and make him clean and useable for His service. 

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.  1 Timothy 1:15 

            Have you ever noticed how much devotion and patience it requires to restore an antique or something else of value?  That is a picture of what God does in our lives.  And the good news is He isn’t finished with us yet!

            A godly father will be an instrument of restoration to those under his influence.  To be used in such a way involves … love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… Galatians 5:22-23

            The Father’s love is amazing.  However, so many have never experienced it.  Maybe your relationship with your earthly father has never been what it could be.  Maybe you have never truly experienced the love of a father.  Today God extends His offer to become His child to you.  Would you accept it?

            Fathers, how does your life measure up to the standard God has given us?  Truthfully, while we are all imperfect, through the indwelling Holy Spirit we can be godly fathers.