Best & Worst Fathers

~ Consider Father Extremes ~

The Father Wound  ~  Many throughout the world today suffer from various kinds of “father wounds.”  These wounds can be caused by an absent father or from physical, mental, or emotional abusiveness.  Suffering from father wounds can sometimes make it difficult to respond to a loving heavenly Father.  On the other hand the extreme contrast can also make it more joyous when a person understands God, the Father, and His great everlasting love for them. 

The Worst Father  ~  In our society today it is unfortunate that many are fiercely loyal to even the most abusive and brutal fathers.  This phenomena is even more prevalent in the spiritual world—loyalty to the worst of all fathers.  Jesus put it this way, “Why do you not understand My speech?  Because you are not able to listen to My word.  You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me” (John 8:43-46).

The Best Father  ~  God, the Father, is the exact opposite—He is the perfect Father. 

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father?”  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?  The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves’” (John 14:9-11). 

The Father Knows and Cares  ~  “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8b).  Jesus also said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?  And not one of them is forgotten before God.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7). 

The New Testament has a number of examples of how this is carried out in real-life situations.  Two examples are the account of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and the shepherd who is missing one of his hundred sheep (Matthew 18:12-14). 

The Father’s Love  ~  “When the fullness of the time had come, God [the Father] sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). 

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’ [‘Daddy’ in our vernacular].  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:14-17). 

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1a).

Closing Comment  ~  While it is true that if you never knew your earthly father, or if your earthly father was abusive, the love of the heavenly Father can be difficult to understand.  God, the Father, knows that and loves you intimately.  Don’t let your earthly negative experiences cause you to miss out on all the extreme blessings that your heavenly Father has in store for you—if you come to Him.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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