Father’s Day | Embracing God the Father Through the Eyes of God the Son

“A Father Story & A Son’s Prayer: Embracing God the Father through the eyes of God the Son.”

Q: If God’s biological design necessitated both a man and woman to produce a child why wouldn’t His family plan necessitate both father and mother to raise a whole, emotionally healthy child?

Moms ask “what did you guys talk about?”

Dads ask “what did you guys do today?”

Identity is what we believe about ourselves.

Satan is after our identity because our identity impacts our present, our future and generations to follow.

Good News:

•     You aren’t alone in living with a broken identity.

•     Sin, ours and others, is the source of all broken identities.

•     Since sin is the source, sin has an answer. God is our identity redeemer.

•     Lies keep broken identities broken. Truth sets us free and makes us whole.

•     Jesus is the Way Maker, Truth Teller and Life Giver.

•     Identity wounds are real and painful. Scars are the great story tellers of healing. God is our identity healer.

The more truth we have about God our Father the more we move towards Him, the more we embrace Him, the more we are shaped by His character and the more whole we become.

Jesus the Son is our best source of Father information. (John 5,8,12,14)

A Father Story

Luke 15:11-24 (NIV) 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 servants 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 servants.’ 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.

The father’s kiss was relationally restorative.

The robe, ring, sandals and celebration were legally restorative.

A Son’s Prayer

Luke 11:1-4, 9-13 (NIV) One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

Jesus is declaring the Father to be…

1.    God the Father is revere-worthy. “‘Father, hallowed be your name…”

2.    God the Father is trustworthy with our present and future. “… your kingdom come [your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven].”

3.    God the Father is our daily provider.  “Give us each day our daily bread.”

4.    God the Father is merciful.  “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.”

5.    God the Father is a trusted leader and powerful deliverer.  “… And lead us not into temptation [but deliver us from evil].’”

Does knowing the truth that God our Father is…

•     Revere-worthy

•     Trustworthy

•     A Daily Provider

•     Merciful

•     A Leader and Deliverer

…change the way you pilgrimage?