Journeys Through Life as a Child of God, "Thanking my Lord for Fatherly Love, from my Dad AND from HIM!"

One of the worst sermons I remember listening to was in Chicago on Father’s Day in 1996. A group from St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer were in Chicago for a worship conference, as our congregation considered some more contemporary ways to possibly worship. Because of the reason for our trip, our group worshiped on Sunday in one of the largest congregations in the country at that time. The church we visited was famous for “seeker worship,” and our group wanted to consider how they were worshiping. I’m not sure how many people attended worship that day, but they had 2 auditoriums which held 14,000 people, and they expected a full crowd.

Before I tell you about that sermon let me share with you what I look for in a sermon. 2 Corinthians 4:5 helps me understand how I believe God wants me to preach. This verse teaches, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.” I was taught that a Lutheran sermon, hopefully any Christian sermon, should be about Jesus. It should proclaim the forgiveness of His cross and the victory of His empty tomb. With that in mind, I have 3 other personal criteria for a good sermon which I pray about each time before I preach. I pray, “Lord, let this sermon be YOUR WORD and not my word. (It should relate the truth of God found in a specific Bible verse.) Let this sermon HELP STRENGTHEN THE FAITH of Your people. LORD, let this sermon BRING YOU GLORY as your people live it out in their lives of faith.” That is my prayer. Basically, I believe a good sermon should speak GOD’S word and tell about Jesus in a way which helps God’s people practically in their walk of faith.

So in 1996, the sermon which I heard on Father’s Day, from a world famous pastor, talked about David. The pastor said, and I paraphrase, “David was a bad father. We don’t want to be fathers like David was. In today’s world we have counselors. Fathers should go to counselors so that they are not like David.” There was no mention of Jesus, or His cross, or His empty tomb. There was no mention that God is our Heavenly Father. The basic message was, ”Go to counselors.” Every pastor can share with you about times they wish they had done a better job of preaching. I wonder if this world-famous pastor felt that way after his Father’s Day message that year.

I share this somewhat long story because this Sunday, June 15, is Father’s Day. We will celebrate and give thanks for our Fathers . . . perhaps. I recently heard that after Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day is the most well attended worship service each year. But, Father’s Day is not necessarily next in line. Perhaps, in our politically correct world, fathers are not held in the same esteem as in past generations.

Perhaps fathers are like pastors - they know their mistakes. Fathers are often considered leaders in their homes. The failures of leaders often seem more obvious. There were times when I was a teenager that I did not get along well with my own dad. I would have been glad to share with you then a list of what I thought his faults were. But that was a rebellious teenager thinking and feeling. The real truth is that my father was a GREAT Christian dad! My life is greatly blessed because he took the calling of father seriously, and because he did his best to raise his children. In the end, he was proud of us, and we are proud and thankful for him.

Please consider what Scripture says about the role of fathers. In Matthew Jesus teaches, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:11) A good father provides for his family.

In Ephesians 6 we read, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) A good Father disciplines his children and teaches them about the Lord.

Finally, please consider this truth from the Psalms. “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:13) A good father loves His children and shows compassion.

As a father myself I know many of my own failings. The list I have of my own regrets is longer than my teenage list was for my dad. But, there is another key found in these verses. I have a heavenly Father who has loved me perfectly. In Jesus, my father forgives my failures and helps me seek to provide for my children, to discipline them and teach them. My Heavenly Father guides me and helps me to love my children. That is important to remember on Father’s Day.

David may have struggled as he sought to father his MANY children. But that is NOT the bottom line. In many ways Scripture tells us how David sought to provide for, to discipline and teach, and to love his children. Scripture also teaches that Fathers are a gift of God to care for their children with God-like love.

This Father’s Day say thanks to your dad. Thank God FOR him. This Father’s Day, thank your Heavenly Father that He provides, that He disciples, teaches and guides. This Father’s Day, thank your Heavenly Father that He loves with saving compassion. This Father’s Day, thank God for His greatest love, our Savior Jesus.

A Child of God, Thanking my Lord for Fatherly Love, from my Dad AND from HIM!

Pastor Rockey

P.S. I have shared some Bible verses about fathers at the end of this devotion.

Psalm 68:5 5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Psalm 103:13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

Matthew 6:9-13 9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

Matthew 6:31-33 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 10:29-31 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

John 1:14 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Romans 14:5-6 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Ephesians 1: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

1 Timothy 1: 2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

1 Peter 1: 2-3 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as full-time senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, AK. I was writing a weekly devotion previously entitled, "Thoughts from the Pastor." When I retired many asked me to continue writing these devotions. So I have continued writing. However, with life's changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys Through Life as a Child of God." Since I am no longer senior pastor at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those who asked to receive it. (However, I am currently as Vacancy Pastor for Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak, AK.)