Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: fathers (06/06/05)
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TITLE: Spiritual Fathers | Previous Challenge Entry
By Catherine Young
06/08/05 -
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And Jesus answered and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.’ (KJV)
See I am one of those orphans – I am a born again believer with parents who have yet to accept Christ. In essences, I have sacrificed family for Christ. Mind you, I still obey God’s command to “honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12 KJV) – but yet there is a missing piece in my life that only a Spiritual Father can fill.
Jesus promised that I would get it all back – and based on the comparison of several translations – not only do I get it all back, but I get it back a hundred times over. Guess what – it’s true!
I have a great big family of God that contains numerous sisters, brothers, mothers and Fathers! I have been blessed with several men who were or are spiritual fathers to me.
I met Don & Bertha in my freshman year of college. I was just a babe in Christ needing a Godly example to follow. Don was that – he never pushed Christianity on me. Yet through his family’s love and acceptance of me, I learned about faith. Don had a quiet faith that shined through in all that he did. Even in death, he knew that it was a victory and not defeat, never wavering in his faith that God was with him.
Bill stepped in as a father figure when my own father would not come to church for the Passion for Purity ceremony. (In this ceremony, it’s tradition for the father to place the purity ring on his daughter’s ring finger, symbolizing her covenant with God to remain pure for her husband.) For whatever reason, I felt led to ask Bill. Every time I need a “Daddy” hug, I seek Bill out. And every time, he wraps me in a big hug and whispers in my ear “I love you, baby girl”. I think Bill is God’s ambassador to remind that I am God’s baby girl.
As Father’s Day is fast approaching – the man, I most think of as my spiritual father these days is Pastor Gene. This relationship really began when I mentored under him for lay leadership. As I write this, I am not even sure where to begin. Pastor Gene is like many other Godly men. And yet …
He willingly stepped into this role in my life. There are countless ways that Pastor Gene has been a spiritual father to me, here is the short list version of them: Pastor Gene …
1) Helps me discover the solution to problems, through skillful questioning. And if it’s one that I need someone to step in for me – like the situation where one of the single men of the church was showing unwanted overtures toward me – he stepped in and spoke with the man.
2) Listened to me ramble on about my insecurities and then showed how unfounded they were in Christ!
3) Takes me to scripture every time I have questions.
4) Challenges me both in my faith and in relationships with others.
5) Checks up on me, when I have been away for a while – “out of sight, out of mind” does not hold true with him!
6) Cheers me on both in my spiritual walk and also in my accomplishments.
7) Prays for me!!
If you are a Godly man, who in reading this is thinking, “I can do those things” – then might I suggest you begin looking around for those who are your spiritual children.
If you are a person in need of a spiritual father – then pray for God to bring this person into your life and be on the look out for him. You may need to take the first step in the relationship – it was in my moving toward them, that Don, Bill and Pastor Gene were able to move into their proper role in my life!!
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