Love of a Father

Posted by anointedplace on October 21, 2010 · 9 Comments 

A child’s love of his father is so much different than that of his mother. It is so different and dynamic until those who’s feelings are easily hurt deny it. They deny it because of pride and the feeling of superiority is threaten. This is not to diminish one for the other but to show the difference and show a correlation. When a baby is born the mother is immediately the first person it comes to know. Not to mention that there has been a bond between mother and child from the moment the baby‘s heart started to beat. So the baby has been apart of the mother from day one. The father is alien to the child up until the baby sees his father for the first time. What is a child to think of this man? Who is this man and where on earth did he come from? After birth the mother is always there and the evidence of her love is visible. If the mother breast feeds, the bond is even stronger and the baby has no need for the father, yet there is something there… Yet, when the baby looks at the father there is something there. The bond is not based on need but an inner element that is not visible and quite frankly hard to explain as well as understand. So how does a child know that the father loves him when the mother is doing so much more? The child knows that the father loves him because the father loves the child first.

1 John 4:18-20 (New International Version)

18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Ephesians 1:4-6 (New International Version)

4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he[a] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

The love of the father is shown in ways that are not tangible. Even after the child is at a level of understanding the child will still not get it all. There are times when a boy will follow his father just because. There are times when a boy will follow his mother because there is a reward afterwards. The child knows that he is loved and loves his father because the father has and is pursuing a relationship. This relationship is based on love and love alone. There are not strings attached and no immediate pay offs. A godly father expresses to the child that you are here not because I needed you but because I wanted you. From this unconditional love of a child’s father spawns how this child will function and fellowship with others. It is very important that this is not over looked as it is the reflection of the work of God in all of His glory, mercy, grace and love. It is also important that fathers discipline their children, as our heavenly Father disciplines us.

Deuteronomy 8:5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. 6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him.

Hebrews 12

2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”[a]

7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

In a father’s heart he has predestined something for his child. In every father of a new born, when he looks at that child he see who that child will be. He loves that child because his son is already but not yet. Just as God when he looks upon His elect even in our falling and getting up. It is not you that He sees but His Son Jesus Christ whom we believe in. It is not because of our righteousness or worthiness that we have God’s favor, grave and mercy but it is Christ in us that He sees. Just like when I look at my kids, I see beyond their mistake but not without chastising. I see beyond their faults and love them in regards to their needs and what they will be. It is the conformity to the image of Christ that God the Father is pushing us toward. It is our coming glorification and our place in heaven, that is where He has elected us to.

A godly father will sacrifice all for his child and so has our heavenly Father in order that we may have a intimate relationship. So we can cry “abba” or “daddy”. We are children of God and we approach Him as a child. Christianity is about having an intimate relationship with God the Father that is now possible because of the atoning and redemptive work of Christ Jesus. Christianity is not rule keeping, do’s & don’ts and attempts to earn your righteousness. Its about being in relationship with God and fellowship with believers. It is about living in Christ and Christ living out through you. We have to not only accept the Father’s love but His discipline as well.

Romans 8:14-16 (New International Version)

14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

God bless you & may the Holy Spirit lead you

 

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