Devotionals

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Not everyone is blessed with good parents. It is also not easy to put on paper the years of hurt, sorrow and pain one experienced growing up. On this Father’s day, I am reminded of some of the unpleasant reasons why it is so difficult to communicate with my dad. Often, the people who are closest to us are the ones who can hurt us the most. I was comforted when a friend told me that he understood. Like me, he knew what it is like to bear other people’s selfish acts, woes and mistakes. With words of comfort and wisdom, this friend made me realise that I am not alone in this world who needs to forgive. Unlike him, I have for so long struggled to forgive.

I can still clearly recall that afternoon when I sat in tears wondering why so many people are blessed with good families while so many others are not. Saying this, I know that I am already blessed above many others because my friend became a father to me. He was the father I always wished I had all my life because he loves me so deeply and sacrificially. It gives me so much joy today just talking about how I have been adopted.

If you are familiar with Romans 8, you may understand what it means to be adopted and to receive love through grace. Our earthly fathers are expected by and large to be responsible for providing, teaching and raising their children. Their gift of time, support and love is admirable and worthy to be emulated. The love of God is undeserved and His provision is unmerited and in spite of my unworthiness, God's love towards me is unfailing and great. I am so touched and blessed to have a heavenly Father who is all the daddy I have always wanted. Yes, my friend who I was talking about is Jesus who came in the flesh to die for my sins and reveal the Father to me. Through it all He has never made me feel that I am not good enough. Quite the contrary, He is so encouraging and He understands me completely even when words fail.

My husband and I were watching “Meet me in St. Louis" last week. It is so amazing that while neither of us could possibly fully understand what it was like to live in simpler times in America, we actually share the same heavenly Father as our ancestors who believed in the faith. Even back in those days, God the Father had children like us. It is amazing that the people who lived during the times of Franklin Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson and other famous people had the opportunity to call upon the name of Jesus as their Saviour. Christians back then are family to Christians today, and the believers after our time are also included in this family. This relationship goes on eternally when all earthly relationships cease on earth. One of my favourite painter artists is Thomas Kinkade. In many of his inspirational art he often includes at the bottom a scripture reference which happens to be one of my favourites too. Here is the verse: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will never perish but have eternal life."

This famous invitation to receive Jesus comes with the gift of son-ship and in my case, the spirit of adoption to experience a heavenly God as my own personal Father. The most beautiful moments in my life pale in comparison to my realisation that God wanted so much to be my Father that He sent Jesus to redeem me. Previously, God was just known as El Shaddai which means God Almighty and Elohim which means God of Hosts but it was Jesus who revealed God‘s preferred role - Abba, Father. To be God of this world, Jesus did not have to die whereas to be Father, Jesus had to take my place as the condemned while He hung on the cross so that I can be God’s child. The book of Hebrews tells us that the veil to the Holy of Holies where the Father dwells is Jesus’ flesh. The scourging, the nailing, the crucifixion tore His flesh thus tearing the veil. By the passion of Christ, we enter the Holy of Holies where we meet God. Interestingly enough, many Christians enjoy the Father and child relationship without understanding the doctrinal truths but this means that God is bigger than we think. The Father reaches to us by His spirit telling us how much He loves us even when we do not read the Bible all the time to know it.

I am touched and so blessed just knowing that Jesus prayed that I will be kept in the Father’s name. I am not kept in El Shaddai’s name and I am not kept in Elohim’s name. Rather I am kept, loved and protected in the Father’s name. In His role as my Father, God looks out for me, accepts me as I am in Christ and loves me with the same love He has for Jesus. I can get as close to God like any child to a father. The son of the president of the United States can get close and personal with his dad. His dad’s position and power in government do not intimidate him in any way. There is a famous story of how the young JFK was given the exclusive privilege to run pass the guards in the White House, across the corridors and directly into the Oval Office to get onto his daddy’s lap even when meetings with the foreign diplomats were in session. I am sure many Christians can happily agree that this is exactly the same kind of privilege they enjoy every time they talk to God because He is our very own Father.

I will remember the fact that my Father has many children across generations and the day will come for the grand family reunion. Anyone who will believe in Jesus will immediately have God as his or her loving heavenly Father. Just as the door to the Oval Office was opened to the little boy, Jesus is the way to the Father by the cross. The door is opened to us. I may not be my Father’s only child but each time I approach Him and spend time with Him, He gives me all the attention in this world as if I am the only one He has eyes for. I guess He is just that big and able to love all of us just as He promised in John 3:16 and Romans 8.

I wrote to my mom and dad earlier this year to tell them all that is in my heart and we cried. I may never be able to offer my dad the comfort he needs even though he knows that I have forgiven him. Yet I am certain that this Father’s Day will be a time of healing for all the people we are praying for since Jesus understands because He was there at Calvary. If you have been wronged, Jesus understands first hand what that feels like. I forgave my dad because I was so gross in my sins against God. I may not be a murderer, an adulterer or I may not have committed any other crime against humanity but in view of His holiness I realise how much I have been forgiven. If you need forgiveness, the Lord does not condemn you when you believe He drew all your sins upon Himself at the cross. We are not worthy to condemn ourselves and yet some of us do. Only the Lord who is without sin is worthy to condemn but He will not. Let us pray for healing and forgiveness this Father’s Day because many are hurting and God is loving and faithful to heal the wounds of the broken hearted.

It has been said in some Christian circles that the Christian experience is not about us but all about God. I have to disagree because Jesus did not die for Himself. He went through all the passion for us at the cross. It is about us! Traditionally, Father’s Day is a time to express our gratitude for our dad’s love for us. If we really think about it, the recipients of that love is us. That is how blessed we are. I have no doubt that when we praise God the Father for who He is, His thoughts are toward us any day and everyday because it is all about His love to us.

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