The title for today's writing is "FATHERS" and is written by Jan Andersen about Father's Day. She writes about our earthly fathers and our heavenly Father. While some struggle on this day to honor earthly fathers, we can all rejoice in our relationship with God the Father. “But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless…"
May you find ways to honor fatherhood this day and give glory to God the Father!
Blessings,
Jan and Corinne
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Today's Devotional:
"OUR FATHERS"
All of us have earthly fathers. Some of them are still living, some have passed away, and others have disappeared from the lives of their children. Some of us have a great relationship with our fathers, while others do not. There are people who don’t even know who their fathers are for various reasons, such as those who were abandoned before they were born, or those with sperm donor fathers. So some have been raised by “Dads” who are not their biological fathers. Fathers come in all shapes and sizes, different types with various talents, and even a multitude of habits and hangups!
We all also have a heavenly Father. He is perfect and loving, merciful and forgiving. Sometimes even our relationship with God the Father is strained. If that is the case, it is not because of God, but because of our own sinfulness. We get distracted by worldly things instead of worshipping and praying together. We worry and question instead of trusting, or get angry instead of being grateful. But God is always right there with us, inviting us back to him whenever we stray or run away. Our heavenly Father never abandons us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave nor forsake you.”
The word “father” appears over 1100 times in the Bible. Some of those verses refer to earthly fathers. Some give instruction to our fathers on how they should relate to their children, such as not to embitter them (Colossians 3:21) or exasperate them, but to bring them up knowing the Lord (Ephesians 6:4.) Others instruct children on how they should relate to their fathers, like honoring them (multiple verses throughout the Bible.) Ever hear a loving father say, “This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.”? Just like other verses that instruct us to not despise God’s discipline because it shows that He loves us like a father (Proverbs 3:11-12.) The Bible even confirms that some earthly parents forsake their children, but that the Lord will always receive us or take us in (Psalm 27:10.)
Finally, the Bible tells us how our heavenly Father relates to us. Sometimes He is compared to our earthly fathers, in that He has compassion on us like a good father has on his children (Psalm 103:13.) In other places He is contrasted against fathers who have abandoned their children, in that God is the helper of the fatherless and those who suffer trouble and grief:
Psalm 10:14 and 17-18 (NIV) “But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless… You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.”
Dear heavenly Father, we thank you for your loving kindness to us, your children here on earth. Thank you for forgiving us when we falter and do not live up to your expectations. Help us to be forgiving to others, including parents and children. Help us to honor fatherhood by pointing to you as the perfect Father for all. May we shine your light to all children of the world through our words and works! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
written by Jan Andersen
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Children of God
by Third Day
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Prayers are lifted up daily for
you by the Devotional Writers
and the Monthly Writing Staff
of Women's Focus Ministries.
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