With Father’s Day approaching, I can’t help but think of God as our heavenly father. The New Testament uses the word “father” for God several times (in Romans, Ephesians, Corinthians, and more). I love that I can think of God as my father.
I really think that a dad has the potential to shape the way that we view God. I have a wonderful earthly father. I can see some of God’s characteristics much more clearly based on the characteristics of my dad. Earthly dads are flawed, some more than others, but we can all learn something about God from our dads (whether it’s that your dad has some qualities of God or that your dad is quite the opposite).
Dads are leaders. Their job is to guide you in the right direction in life. They do so with love and strength.
Fathers are often seen as the powerful one in the family. What dad says goes, for the most part.
Dads know better than you do.
A father’s embrace can bring comfort and peace.
Dads provide for their families.
Good dads are ready to listen and are available.
Dads sacrifice for their children. Fathers expect you to do your best, but are always there to pick you up when you fall.
Dads are good decision makers. They judge fairly.
Good fathers protect. They shield their children from harm.
Dads discipline. Because they want us to become better people and they want what’s best for us.
Daddies love their children unconditionally.
God does all of these things on a much bigger scale and he does them without error. I love that he has placed people in our lives (not just dads) to teach us more about Him. We can never truly understand God completely, but He blesses us with things and experiences and people in life that can help us understand Him better.
Unfortunately, not everyone has a father who can help them to understand these characteristics of God the way that I do. I hope that you can put away your ideas of a father based on your experiences and see God for the good father that He is. If you don’t have an earthly father, or if you don’t have a good one, good news! You have a perfect heavenly father that loves you more than you can imagine! He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). He will show you what a father should be.
When I reach heaven, I hope that God will wrap me in his arms like my dad has always wrapped me in his.
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Mrs. Rockefeller's Ramblings 