God, Our Perfect Father

 

As we approach Father’s Day, I wanted to talk about God as a loving and compassionate father. I know that for many of us, Father’s Day carries a variety of emotions, whether we are joyous as we celebrate a loving and caring father, angry or resentful toward a father who was absent or who has caused us great pain, or deeply saddened as we mourn the loss of a father. While we each experience a different relationship with our earthly father, we all share a Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally and is perfect in every way. 

 

I know, it can sometimes be difficult to envision God as a “perfect father,” especially if you’ve had a difficult, painful, or nonexistent relationship with your earthly father. And, even if you have the greatest dad in the world, he’s probably made mistakes and fallen short of perfection at times. The reality is, we often project the image and character of our earthly father onto God, but it’s important that we instead turn to prayer and scripture to get a true image of God as a perfect Father. 

 

God’s Perfect & Unconditional Love

 

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:6-7

 

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. - 1 John 4:9-10

 

God’s Presence In our Lives

 

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. - Deuteronomy 31:8

 

So do not fear, for I am with you; 

do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you and help you; 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. - Matthew 28:19-20

 

God’s Grace

 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

 

to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace - Ephesians 1:6-7

 

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. - 1 Peter 5:10

 

As we approach Father’s Day, I would encourage you to reflect on these verses. My hope is that they can provide truth and comfort, and ultimately help you draw closer to God, our loving and perfect Father!