Psalm 127:3-4 --- Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.
Luke 15:20 --- So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
In my quiet time with the Lord today, He led us on a small journey into Psalms and Luke.
Let's rewind for a moment to yesterday. I met up with a very close brother and we discussed many things. Jesus, the Bible, Accountability, Work, Finances, Our marriages, Ministries, Giftings, and Children. As we talked about all of it, I had this image of a man sitting on the floor. There were patches for a colorful quilt laid out all around him. It was an overwhelming, borderline anxious image, until the man found the spool of golden thread. Having this in hand, the chaos, the overwhelming feeling from all the patches, faded away, into a rock-solid confidence of direction and purpose. That golden thread was Jesus and all the man had to do now was link all these things together with the singular thread of Jesus, for them to become a beautiful patchwork quilt.
The thread and the work of it all were from Him, in Him and to Him. This was the thought that really hit me as I described the image to my close brother. From Him, In Him, To Him. All roads should lead to Jesus.
Flashback over and I today I'm praying and talking with the Lord before my study, and he brings me back to this image and the discussion. Then he intertwines it with Father's Day. He just showed me how that image is a father's work in the family. To take all the pieces of our family and our lives and tie them together with the only eternally unbreakable thread in existence, Jesus Christ. That we are to sew our families and our lives and all parts of it together with Jesus. That we should be able to look and follow the thread of Jesus through every area of our lives, into our wives, into our children, into our work, into our home, into our finances, into the church, etc….
Then the Lord led me to the two verses today. If you profess to be a Christian and you are a father stop and read these verses again.
Psalm 127:3-4 --- Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.
Luke 15:20 --- So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Beloved, those children who call you daddy, dad, father, papa, pops, old man, they are a GIFT from God. They are a REWARD. They are like ARROWS in the hand of a warrior. You are meant to take charge, carefully aim them, and fires as best you can for the bullseye of Jesus Christ and the Word, Truth, Love! You had better take it serious, because the more golden thread you use on these arrows, the truer they will fly. We're far from perfect so they may not hit that mark perfectly, but you better put it as close to the target as you can. Because once that arrows hears Holy Spirit one day calling, they'll be right there by the bullseye, right where Jesus is.
The second verse in Luke is from the parable of the Prodigal Son, but the focus is on his father. You had better fill yourself up with the agape love of the God every day, so that you can look upon your children with love, truth, compassion, be moved by them. Our Father in Heaven is full of emotion and doesn't hold back to show it to us. This prodigal's father saw his son from a great ways off, he was watching for him. Even though he didn't know for sure if his son was even alive, he was watching for him. He jumped up, ran, lavished him with hugs and kisses. You had better have a heart, eyes and ears for your children because your Father in Heaven has a heart, eyes and ears for you. Jesus is our example and he loved and loved and loved and gave and gave and gave. Wake up dad and get your eyes off yourself and onto Jesus, onto that wife of yours, and onto the gift that has been given you by God Himself, those children.
So, Christian dad you have a responsibility and a calling and it's not to live your best life now. It's to deny yourself, give up your own way, take up your cross and follow Jesus. To abide in Him and let Jesus overflow into your family. Be intentional and make certain every day you are intertwining your family together with the golden thread of Jesus, His love and His truth.
Happy Father's Day!
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