“I will be a father to him, and he’ll be a son to me. When he does wrong, I’ll discipline him in the usual ways, the pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I’ll never remove my gracious love from him.” -2 Samuel 7:14-15
A father plays a special role in life. The role does not always depict the same illustration as the next person, but nevertheless, a father, or father figure is very important today. What do people say a father represents? There’s the protector, the parent, the first friend, the provider, the guide, the shield, the defender, the champion,and more. This past Sunday, millions celebrated the annual Father’s Day. Every year, many dedicate this day to the fathers, uncles, grandfathers, godfathers, brothers and more. People, young and old, exchange meaningful cards, make homemade projects, supply thoughtful gifts, and even prepare special feast, to celebrate the father figures in their life. Around the world, the role of “father”has come to be represented in many forms. Yet, it is often forgotten, that God is the Ultimate Father of all.
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘ Abba, Father.’ ” Romans 8:14-15
God, our amazing Father is the one and only perfect embodiment of the word. While, there are generations of great fathers, increasing steadily every day, there will never be a fulfillment like a personal relationship with God, Our Father. Why is that? Because no one has or will ever love us like God loves us (Romans 5:7-8). He has been watching us from the womb and he cares deeply for both our physical well-being and spiritual destiny. This father-child relationship is the most important one we need in our lives, as it determines not just our present, but also our eternal destiny. God is not like the father figures in our lives; he actually knows what’s best for you, even when it hurts (Hebrews 12:9-11). He desires each of us to seek him and reach out to him (Acts 17:27), and in doing so, we will find him. He knows us better than anyone in the universe – including ourselves and our physical fathers – and wants us to respond to his call to become his true children.
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” -Proverbs 22:6
Here in the Washington DC International Christian Church, we have many different kinds of fathers. You can find men who are fathers to their own physical children, but there are also step dads, uncles, brothers, grandfathers, and spiritual fathers. For this year’s Father’s Day, we spoke with some of the dads in the church, to hear more about their experience with fatherhood.
For Sunday service, Jeff Fisher preached a powerful sermon entitled, “Searching For Biblical Father Figures.” Jeff touched on many events that involved father figures in his life, as well as the role he plays in his own children’s lives. He spoke on how a father’s love is the kind of love that will get you to be who you are supposed to be. It gives you a purpose. This is how God’s love is.
Additionally, Jeff and many other fathers, in the church, reflected on the first time they took their child home from the hospital. They described it as a moment of panic,wondering why the hospital staff would let them take a baby home. The fathers recalled having absolutely no idea what they were doing. No training, no classes.
Steve Droblas recalled his first time taking his daughter home from the hospital. He questioned the hospital staff’s sanity, by letting them take a newborn home. Steve reflected on how he can get caught up in the day to day responsibilities of being a father, that when Father’s Day comes around, he is amazed that he actually is a dad. Overall his goal as a dad is to connect emotionally with his child, always vocalizing his love, and helping them to become a disciple of Jesus.
Dr. Ken Chin believes that initially, anyone can be a dad, in the sense that they can contribute to the creation of a child, but it takes more to be a father. Since becoming a disciple, Father’s Day makes him think of what is contributed to the longevity of a child’s life. The love, the concern for their well being, and a mentorship that allows them to grow knowing God. Raising a child to know God can be challenging, because of the persistence, discipline, and lack of sentimentality this route entails. The hardest part is to love over and over again. However, that is how God loves us. Ken recalls how that is one of the main things God has taught him. His father was there at times, as he grew up. As a disciple, God has called him to be in his children’s lives constantly.
Kofi Adease retells how he has always aspired to be a father. Some of the father figures in his life, instilled a strong sense of hard work and the importance of loving unconditionally, like Jesus. When asked, what was one of his favorite parts of fatherhood, he spoke about the growth and development of his daughter, socially, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Chris Bradley always aspired to be a dad. His favorite part of being a father to his children, is being able to be one of the first influences in their lives, that shapes them forever. Chris had many great men in his life, as father figures. His dad raised him and his siblings alone for 11 years. Other important examples of fatherhood were illustrated in the form of his high school and college coaches. Chris lived with his head football coach for a semester. He truly was his “sensei” during his transitional years from college to the real world.
“Being a father has been, without a doubt, my greatest source of achievement, pride and inspiration. Fatherhood has taught me about unconditional love, reinforced the importance of giving back and taught me how to be a better person.” – Naveen Jain
Recent Comments