(1 Thessalonians 2:9–12) For you remember,
brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a
burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You
are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our
conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his
children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you
and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God,
who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Our God is, as Jesus taught us, "our heavenly Father.” And
so that we might begin to understand the glory of that privilege, God has given
us earthly fathers to enrich our apprehension of what it means to be the sons
and daughters of the Creator of the universe. Although earthly fathers
imperfectly bear the likeness of our heavenly Father, when they do so
faithfully, they do it with profound effect.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they beget something that bears
resemblance to them and yet is completely unique and separate from them.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they conceive children knowing in
advance that they will be difficult, selfish, ungrateful and who at
times will defy their fatherly authority and ignore their fatherly wisdom.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they conceive children, not for what the
children can do for them, but rather as objects of their intense love and
unflagging devotion; little people upon whom to lavish affection,
encouragement, provision and praise.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they lovingly perform a thousand selfless
deeds for their children accompanied by a thousand gifts of provision and are
happily content to have one or two acknowledged and praised.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they wrestle with their children and
pretend to be overpowered by their children’s vastly inferior strength and
agility.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they sagely allow their children to take
on tasks too big for them; to fail, and to suffer loss, pain, frustration and
humiliation confident of the character that these afflictions will almost
surely produce.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they teach, and then re-teach, and then
re-re-teach the same lessons over and over again, patiently committed to teach
the lessons as many times as it takes for the wisdom to take root in the hearts
of their children.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they listen patiently to their children
tell them things they already know; listen empathetically as their children
vent their frustrations, cry their fears, and listen attentively as their
children share the minutia of their tiny little lives.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they exercise their strength to defend,
protect, guard and rescue their children from overwhelming dangers, foes and
catastrophes.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they stand tip-toe, patiently scanning the
horizon for the return of wayward, thankless and rebellious sons and daughters,
all the while remaining ever-ready to receive, forgive and bless them.
- Fathers
bear the image of their Creator when they, just like the Lord God, are
perfectly easy to please, and forever impossible to satisfy. Ever eager to
acknowledge and praise the smallest of their children’s victories and
accomplishments, and ever wanting for them more than they are able to ask or
imagine.
And so, dads, we sons and daughters thank you from the very
bottom of our hearts, not merely for your myriad acts of love and service. But
for the countless ways that you displayed and revealed to us the big-hearted
goodness and never-ending love of our Creator God. To Him be all glory and
praise!
