Father's Day!

                                                      "Father's Day!"

I don't know about you, but the word, "father" brings so many things to mind.  My earthly father began as a great role model, then from age 11 to 19, he abused me (I almost died a few times...not the focus today, however!). 
When I was 3 1/2, he taught me to read, write my name, and tell time using paper plate clocks (yes, clocks of those "olden days" were not digital, they had a big hand and a little hand!).  I was reading Poe's works by first grade.  He took me to the library to get my own library card.  He gave me an allowance and taught me the value of money.  Though he did not believe himself, he enrolled me in religious instruction, sparking my passion for knowing and one day serving, God  He took me camping, fishing, and on scenic drives.  He not only was a great musician, playing all instruments, but I inherited music ability and a love of music from him.  I looked up to dad.  Dad was someone I aspired to be like when I grew older.
As time went on, "dad" became a word the stirred fear, resentment, bitterness, and sadness in me.  "Dad", "father" became a source of pain in my heart, mind, emotions, and body.
Today, my earthly father is no longer here.  He passed away in 1991 from a fairly short battle with esophageal cancer.  I hope he knew Jesus and reconciled himself with his Heavenly Father before leaving us.  Though there was a lot of pain for many years, our last conversation ended with, "I hope you know I do love you."  Today, I am a better person for the early "training" my father gave me.  I love to read, write, I had performed for 15 years without a pause, as drummer in bands on stages all over New York state.  Today, I write music and wrote my first book, "A is for....",
We all have a father here on earth.  I pray yours was/is a good one.  I pray you are a good dad to your children.  The Bible has a lot to say about "fatherhood", and I will share some with you.

On being a dad....

Proverbs 17:6 - Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Psalms 139:13-16 - For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 - Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Psalm 127:3 - Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 

Proverbs 13:24 - He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Proverbs 19:18 - Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

Proverbs 20:7 - The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:15 -  Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13-14 -  Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Psalm 44:1 - We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

Proverbs 23:24 - The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him

Ephesians 6:4 - And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.


On Children toward dad....

Exodus 20:12 -  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Proverbs 23:22 -  Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother
when she is old.

Ephesians 6:1-3 - Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Colossians 3:20 - Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

On God our Father....

Matthew 3:17 - And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased

Matthew 6:8 - Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 11:52 - And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Romans 8:14-17 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

1 John 3:1 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Galatians 3:26 - For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 3:11-12 - My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:  For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

So, we see that children are a treasure to their parents just as we are to our Father in Heaven!  Children need to respect and love their parents.  There is a lack of parents training up children in obedience and instructing them in righteousness (the BIBLE) as well as a blatant disrespect of children toward their parents.  I encourage children to honour and love your dad on this Father's day.  Count him as a blessing and learn from him.  Dads, love your children and teach them well.  Raise them as godly people that they will grow to be godly adults.  Believers, wish God a happy Father's day, giving Him praise and thanksgiving for saving, sealing, and adopting us as his children - whom the Bible states over and over HE LOVES HIS CHILDREN!  As His children, let's strive to walk in obedience to His Word, and don't be angry when He has to chasten us.  As we need a spanking from our earthly parents, we need them from our Heavenly Father, too.

If you are a dad who is not saved, I encourage you to seek the Lord in prayer, confess your sins and ask His forgiveness.  Ask for His Holy Spirit to fill you and guide you all the days of your life.  Then, teach your children to seek Him and become reconciled as well.  What a blessing it would be for dad and his children to fellowship and grow together in the Lord!  Study His Word and pray daily.

May all the dads have a most blessed Father's Day! 

Rev. Aaron M Mathews, Th.M.
June 16, 2012
reverendamathews@yahoo.com