I wrote a spiritual autobiography a few months ago. I learned that I related to God more as my shepherd than a father. This put a thirst within to relate to Him as father. I found an article that was a wonderful collection of scriptures and biblical topics on God as father. I haven’t been able to find it again to properly credit that source. That was the guide for most of this entry. I also had some personal thoughts on the fatherhood of God.
The Lord is a father who knows our needs (Matthew 6:8). These are the typical needs that we don’t mind sharing. He knows the things we struggle with and are ashamed about. Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” He knows the dark areas that we are ashamed of.
The Lord is a good father who disciplines us. The god of the Old Testament is the same in the New Testament. Jesus disciplined His disciples as the need required. In Luke ch 9, they were arguing about which one was the greatest. He brought a child and said the greatest is the one that is like a child. On another occasion Peter attempts to persuade Jesus to avoid the cross. Jesus rebukes him (Matthew 16:23). This isn’t out of harshness, but out of love.
The Lord is a defender Psalm 68:5 “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Some times a father needs to step in if a child is overwhelmed. This passage speaks of the widow and the orphan. These are societies most unimpowered. God helps them. He will also help us.
The Lord is a father who is generous and wise. Jesus makes a comparison to earthly fathers who are flawed and worse and the Lord. “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Mt. 7:9-11). If we have the capacity to be wise and generous to our children, how much more does God?
We are special to our father. “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands” (Isa. 49:14-16). When someone tattoos someone’s name, it’s because they are special. A tattoo is a commitment. We are inscribed on God’s hand.
Our Father accepts us. One of my favorite actors is Robert Duvall. He gives the impression of being good. I feel like if I were to be with him, he would let me associate with Him. To be his friend. He has ethos. A good father allows this. The child has a place with him. Even if no one spoke. They could be sitting busy with their tasks, but content with one another’s company.
I wanted to provide my own thoughts about fatherhood. My own dad died when I was two. I was around men, but their influence felt more stern and detached. I had a jr. high/high school teacher whom I gravitated towards. He was a pe teacher in middle school. At the time, president Nixon funded this fitness initiative. It involved performing about a dozen tasks: runing several miles over time, so many push ups along with other exercises. It took weeks and we got a patch if we did it. I did it in both seventh and eighth grades. Part of my motivation was because of this teacher.
This same teacher would go on our weekend, school sponsored trips to the mountains, the beach, Knott’s Berry Farm, etc. He liked being around us. I also had him in high school in a business class. I wasn’t close to him, as I wasn’t close to any adult male. I would orbit at a distance. That was enough for me. I didn’t know how to be close to an adult male. I knew that he thought well of me and somehow that was enough at that time.
I met Gordon when I was 18. I had just became a christian. He discipled me for a year. I would go to his place for a bible study most friday nights. My brother or another friend would accompanty me on occasion. He became a pastor a few years later. I went to his church and helped in his ministry. I was an assistant pastor and was eventually on paid staff. He was a gentle, kind man. My orbit was much closer.
At Gordan’s church was an elderly gentleman, Richard Kopp. He loved us 20 somethings. He would greet me with a handshake. He sustained the grip for nearly a minute. When I attempted to retract, he kept the grip. I was uncomfortable. However, I learned that he was being affectionate in a way acceptable to men. His gaze was warm and interested. This rewired something in me. I didn’t come from an affectionate family. I didn’t make the connection with the importance of touch. My friends would joke with me about my avoidance. It has been the last few years that I’ve felt the importance of hugging.
Our heavenly father knows our needs, disciplines us, defends us, is generous, we’re tattooed on His hand, He’s accepting and good. We need to allow this to be personalized. He is all of those things. Lord, help us to grow closer to You, as father.
The Lord is a father who knows our needs (Matthew 6:8). These are the typical needs that we don’t mind sharing. He knows the things we struggle with and are ashamed about. Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” He knows the dark areas that we are ashamed of.
The Lord is a good father who disciplines us. The god of the Old Testament is the same in the New Testament. Jesus disciplined His disciples as the need required. In Luke ch 9, they were arguing about which one was the greatest. He brought a child and said the greatest is the one that is like a child. On another occasion Peter attempts to persuade Jesus to avoid the cross. Jesus rebukes him (Matthew 16:23). This isn’t out of harshness, but out of love.
The Lord is a defender Psalm 68:5 “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Some times a father needs to step in if a child is overwhelmed. This passage speaks of the widow and the orphan. These are societies most unimpowered. God helps them. He will also help us.
The Lord is a father who is generous and wise. Jesus makes a comparison to earthly fathers who are flawed and worse and the Lord. “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Mt. 7:9-11). If we have the capacity to be wise and generous to our children, how much more does God?
We are special to our father. “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands” (Isa. 49:14-16). When someone tattoos someone’s name, it’s because they are special. A tattoo is a commitment. We are inscribed on God’s hand.
Our Father accepts us. One of my favorite actors is Robert Duvall. He gives the impression of being good. I feel like if I were to be with him, he would let me associate with Him. To be his friend. He has ethos. A good father allows this. The child has a place with him. Even if no one spoke. They could be sitting busy with their tasks, but content with one another’s company.
I wanted to provide my own thoughts about fatherhood. My own dad died when I was two. I was around men, but their influence felt more stern and detached. I had a jr. high/high school teacher whom I gravitated towards. He was a pe teacher in middle school. At the time, president Nixon funded this fitness initiative. It involved performing about a dozen tasks: runing several miles over time, so many push ups along with other exercises. It took weeks and we got a patch if we did it. I did it in both seventh and eighth grades. Part of my motivation was because of this teacher.
This same teacher would go on our weekend, school sponsored trips to the mountains, the beach, Knott’s Berry Farm, etc. He liked being around us. I also had him in high school in a business class. I wasn’t close to him, as I wasn’t close to any adult male. I would orbit at a distance. That was enough for me. I didn’t know how to be close to an adult male. I knew that he thought well of me and somehow that was enough at that time.
I met Gordon when I was 18. I had just became a christian. He discipled me for a year. I would go to his place for a bible study most friday nights. My brother or another friend would accompanty me on occasion. He became a pastor a few years later. I went to his church and helped in his ministry. I was an assistant pastor and was eventually on paid staff. He was a gentle, kind man. My orbit was much closer.
At Gordan’s church was an elderly gentleman, Richard Kopp. He loved us 20 somethings. He would greet me with a handshake. He sustained the grip for nearly a minute. When I attempted to retract, he kept the grip. I was uncomfortable. However, I learned that he was being affectionate in a way acceptable to men. His gaze was warm and interested. This rewired something in me. I didn’t come from an affectionate family. I didn’t make the connection with the importance of touch. My friends would joke with me about my avoidance. It has been the last few years that I’ve felt the importance of hugging.
Our heavenly father knows our needs, disciplines us, defends us, is generous, we’re tattooed on His hand, He’s accepting and good. We need to allow this to be personalized. He is all of those things. Lord, help us to grow closer to You, as father.