The Greatest Father of All

Written By Carol

In just two days we will celebrate Father’s Day–a day set aside to honor, appreciate and remember fathers, father figures, and other men who’ve played a role in shaping, encouraging and teaching us.

Many of you are or have been blessed with loving close relationships with your fathers.  Others of you would define your relationship with your fathers as only surface and cordial. Sadly, others would describe your relationships as distant, fragile or even broken. And for some of you, your father has passed, and you are missing him.

Regardless of where you may fall on the relationship spectrum, from close to fragile, to broken, or perhaps grieving or missing your dad, I say to you, to me, to all of us in fact, we do have a Father in heaven, who loves us more than we could possibly imagine, and who is also the greatest Father of all.

God as Father

While God has always been our Father, (Isaiah 63:16) this relationship is evidenced, made possible and accessed through Jesus. It is only because of our relationship with Jesus, that we too can know God as our Father. Additionally, we can understand what the Father is like through Jesus, as He is the exact representation of His Father, (Hebrews 1:3). And to make this even clearer, Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father…” (John 14: 9 & 11), not to mention Jesus also said, “I and My Father are One” (John 10:30). By this we can be confident that everything we love, treasure, and know to be true of Jesus, is also true of our Father. Long before Chris Tomlin ever sang Good, Good Father, the Scriptures declared it to be true. 

The Scriptures Speak

Through the revealed, living, unfailing, unchanging, eternal, constant, consistent Word of God, we can know and understand what our Father is like. I encourage you to read through these scriptural descriptions of God as our Father, taking time to reflect upon, appreciate, and express gratitude for each one.

  • God is a Father who has adopted us, allowing us to call Him "Abba” (Galatians 4:6).

  • God is a Father who will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5).

  • God is a Father who cares about our future (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT).

  • God is a Father who goes before us, and pursues us with goodness and mercy (Psalm 139:5 & Psalm 23:6). 

  • God is a Father who values us (Luke 12:7). 

  • God is a Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows (Psalm 68:5).

  • God is a Father who is compassionate (Psalm 103:13).

  • God is a Father who loves us dearly and calls us His children (1 John 3:1).

  • God is a Father who disciplines us with love (Hebrews 12:6).

  • God is a Father who knows what we need before we ask (Matthew 6:8).

  • God is a Father we can always talk to through prayer (Matthew 6:9).

  • God is a Father who provides and cares for us (Matthew 6:25-32). 

  • God is a Father who welcomes and restores us, even when we’ve messed up horribly (Luke 15:11-22).

  • God is a Father who listens to, and is attentive to our prayers (Psalm 116:1-2, 1 Peter 3:12).

  • God is a Father who wipes our tears and cares deeply when we suffer (Revelation 21:4, Psalm 56:8)

  • God is a Father who rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

  • God is a Father who fights our battles (Deuteronomy 20:4).

  • God is a Father who will be with us forever (Matthew 28:20b).

Finally, if for any reason, or at any time we are tempted to doubt or question the Father’s love for us, the Scriptures speak clearly to this as well. They remind us of the depths of our Father’s love, a love so vast, He would send Jesus as the penalty for our sin, so that we could be forgiven and experience His love forever (John 3:16).

And for each of the reasons I listed, and infinitely more, we can know and be sure our Father is truly the greatest Father of all. 

So perhaps take some time these next few days, reflecting upon your Father's love for you. And be sure to also share His love with others —especially those who don’t know God as Father and have never received His love. 

[T]he Father himself loves you dearly because you love [Jesus] and believe [He] came from God” (John 16:27 NLT).

Pray

Father God, I acknowledge You as the greatest of all Fathers, the source of all blessing and the foundation for everything good. I thank You for Your immeasurable love, wisdom, and power, and I am grateful for Your faithfulness, love and mercy. Help me to live confidently and courageously in the knowledge of Your great love for me. And may Your love for me overflow to others, so that they too may know you as Father. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Reflect

Which of the many ways the Scriptures describe God as Father are most meaningful to you and why?

Encourage others with your response to this week’s question HERE!

Carol
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The Purpose of Power