Fatherhood: the position, privilege and promise.

We honour and celebrate our fathers today – spiritual fathers, fathers by birth or fathers by behaviour.  God celebrates you as a male. (He created them male and female and blessed them. Gen 5: 2a NKJV) God blessed Adam and gave him a position (Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden Gen 2: 15a NKJV). In the same manner, God has given you a position.

The position of a father is an irreplaceable gift from God: a contract between you and your Heavenly Father.  Do not vacate it, abandon it or quit. The Father has placed a call, His call, on your life.  The position of a father is a purpose and a design of God–to live for and live by. A purposeless father is an oxymoron. It does not exist. The purpose and position are made for you.

Your position calls for your enlistment in a love army for God.  The military description is apt. His army has no other Commander than the Lord Jesus Himself (Revelations 19: 12) who deserves our utmost love (Matthew 22:37), worship (Joshua 5:14-15), our obedience (John 14:15), and to be suited up in His armour (Ephesians 6: 11) and, most importantly, to fall in line!

Yes, fall in line. When we keep our eyes off the Commander (Hebrews 12:2), we fall out of line, out of love. If you are habitually missing when the army is gathered in worship, prayer and teaching of God’s word, guess what, you are falling out of line, out of love. You are AWOL.Do not vacate your position.

God has called you to be the head of your household (1 Timothy 3:4), to guide your family into the way of the Lord. Do not vacate the position.

The position of a father comes with privileges given by our Heavenly Father: He backs you up all the time. The most important privilege is the opportunity to protect, serve and minister. Good fathers give good gifts (Matthew 7:11). From birth to when the child leaves home, and even beyond, a father has endless opportunities to bless daily. Love always gives. For the Father so loved…..that He gave (John 3:16). From the daily needs of an infant to Christmas presents for the toddler to guidance and teaching in the Way of the Lord, you and I, as fathers, are called to give selflessly.

It is our privilege to serve people around us in the church and the community because fathers watch out for others. The government may give substance to people in need, but we must bear our gifts with our hearts to the “orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). All around us are lonely and forgotten people. The love of God compels us to step in, even when they are timid and would not ask: this is our privilege! Our Heavenly Father gives seed to each sowing Father, replenishing him to the overflowing and never lacking. There is always something to give-materially, by way of counsel, prayerfully, and with intercession.

It is the privilege of a father to hear from God about his family’s purpose and be unafraid, staying the course even in the face of obstacles, marching in tune with Godly vision. Move with God. Be courageous.

There is certainly a lot to be discouraged about today: an uncertain future, the difficulties of daily living, self-doubt, and of course, there is the pandemic and the endless lockdowns.

How do we keep our heads above water despite the unending avalanche of challenges? The answer is surprisingly rather simple: He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10: 23)

Once we have done all He called us to do, we wait (Exodus 14:13; Psalm 27:14). Wait? Just wait?

Yes. Wait on Him.

But even better still: Rest (Hebrews 4:10).

Wait, rest…is it that easy?

You see, brother: we often forget that the work of salvation was earnestly completed (John 19:30).

You see, we are saved (when we accepted the Lord; Romans 10:9). We are being saved (deliverance from all the little and big problems inherent in living on planet Earth, 1 Peter 1:9), and we shall be saved from the inevitable destruction yet to come (Romans 5:9).

The finished work comes with a promise.  So, is the promise still real?  Yes, of course.

The Lord is not slow to do what He has promised (2 Peter 3: 9).

It is the same deal for you as a father. You are God’s promise.

Fatherhood is a promise, and whether you are aspiring or in the role, somewhat or fully, you are a promise. This is exactly who you are to a son or a daughter–present or future.

2 Corinthians 6: 18 captures this so beautifully: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

The next verse (2 Corinthians 7:1) says, “Since we have these promises….”

There you have it: you are the promise which has come true in someone else’s life.

A child may not fully appreciate the promise, but it is evident when it is lacking. Trust me; there are multitudes that are spiritually fatherless. We have an obligation not to turn away.

Today, we thank all of our fathers who persevered, protected us, prayed for us, showed us compassion, taught us, disciplined us, and ministered to us.  They are promises fulfilled.

To all of us men of promise who are also waiting for the promise of the Lord’s return, let us be alive in Christ. We are called to love Him deeply and help build the Kingdom of God in any way we can, look after our household, and care for others around us.

If you are currently a dormant promise, today is the time to wake up to the promise: to become the father that your Father wrote in His contract with you.

Many of us fathers are needlessly struggling – striving all the time and still feeling inadequate, not meeting the goals of others, feeling more failure than success, doubtful that we can make the cut designed, not by God, but others. If that is you: Be encouraged today with your position, privilege, and promise, all of which are God’s gift to you today. Celebrate! Rejoice!

God is calling you: Return to the Lord (Zechariah 1:3), Repent (Acts 3:19), trust in Him and be refreshed (Jeremiah 17: 7-8).

Regardless, like Adam, God made you a male and called you blessed.

Happy Father’s Day!!