One of the reasons why I wanted to have a child was to get a better understanding of how God feels about me. I wanted to understand more about that unconditional love that He has for me as His child. That first time I held my son in my arms, I thought to myself, so that is how you feel Lord. I just looked at him and thought about how much I would sacrifice to protect him. I would do anything to keep him safe, help him when he is in need and provide everything that he needs. I don’t want my son to have to go through the struggles that I went through.
The love that I have for my son doesn’t even compare to the unconditional love that God has for me. Now when I think about that, knowing how much I love my son, it really makes me feel closer to Him. I can trust that he wants the best for me and will do anything for me.
1 John 3:1 (New American Standard Bible)1 See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.
As with any child, there are times when my son disobeys me or does something that he shouldn’t. During those times, I need to discipline him and teach him that there are consequences for being disobedient or not doing what he should. I discipline him because I love him. I want him to be safe and do the right thing. I want to keep him from sin, because I know the consequences of sin.
Just like my son, there are times when I am disobedient or don’t do the right thing. Because God loves me as a son, he disciplines me. He knows the consequences of sin and doesn’t want me to be condemned with the world when that day of judgement comes.
Hebrews 12:5-7 (New American Standard Bible)5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,Nor faint when you are punished by Him;6 For whom the Lord loves He disciplines,And He punishes every son whom He accepts.”7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
The one thing that I need to remember as a father, is to have compassion for my son. There will be a day when he messes up badly and instead of getting mad or being judgmental with him, I need to show compassion. Sometimes when we mess up, what we need is comfort, to know that someone loves us and that everything will be ok. I try to always let my son know that it is ok to make a mistake, but the important thing is that you learn from that mistake.
I will be the first one to tell you that I am not perfect and I have messed up badly. But in those times, the Lord is always there for me to bring me comfort and let me know that everything will be alright.
Sometimes when we mess up, what we need is comfort, to know that someone loves us and that everything will be ok.
To illustrate this, one of my favorite parables in the Bible is The Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-24.
To summarize the story, a man had two sons and the youngest asked for his inheritance, moved to a distant country and then foolishly wasted his inheritance on an excessive indulgent lifestyle. A famine came and because he no longer had any money, he was starving and had to get a job feeding pigs. One day when he was so hungry that he was considering eating the pigs food, he came to his senses and realized that his father’s servants ate better food than this. So he decided to head back home and ask his father for forgiveness and to allow him to come back home and work for him. While the son was still a long way away, his father saw him, felt compassion for him and ran out to embrace him and kiss him. The son told his father how he sinned against heaven and him and how he felt like he was no longer worthy to be considered his son. But the father told his servants to bring out his best robe, put his ring on his son’s finger, sandals on his feet, and prepare a feast to celebrate. They celebrated because he thought that his son was dead but he is alive, he thought that his son was lost but he is now found.
To me, as a father, the story illustrates how I need to show compassion, grace and forgiveness to my son when he gets himself into a bad situation. My Father in heaven has done this for me in the past and I can trust that He will do it again if the need arises.
This Father’s day I want everyone to know that you have a Father in heaven that loves you unconditionally, will bring correction to you when needed, but He will always show compassion, comfort, grace and forgiveness to His children that come home and seek His forgiveness. He loves you more than you will ever be able to understand.
May God be with you all this Father’s day!