Wednesday, June 14, 2023
The Perfect Father
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy. (Psalm 68:5 NLT)
I don’t know what kind of earthly dad you have, but you have a Father in Heaven who is perfect. He’s flawless. He has no limitations whatsoever.
What is He like? Jesus answered that in what we call the parable of the Prodigal Son. We could just as easily call it the parable of the Loving Father, because it’s a story about a father who has two sons.
One of the sons went astray, left home, and blew all the money that his dad gave him as his inheritance. Afterward he came to his senses and returned home. And according to Jesus, when that father saw his boy in the distance, he ran to him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. He welcomed him home again.
God the Father is like the father in that story. He’s a Father who loves you, a Father who longs for a relationship with you, and a Father who is brokenhearted when you sin and are away from Him.
I would also add that God’s heart goes out to fatherless children. I understand how hard this can be because I was basically raised by a single mom. In fact, the Bible tells us that God is a “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows” (Psalm 68:5 NLT).
Honestly, there are times when parents blow it. They abandon their children, or they’re harsh or even abusive. But regardless of what your parents did or even what your grandparents did, God can change your story. When Jesus Christ enters the narrative, He can change your future. But you need to ask Him to come and take control.
If you’re a prodigal child, you can come back home. Or if you never have believed in Jesus, then you can believe in Him and be forgiven of all your sin. There’s a place at the table for you in the family of God.
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