Loving Father
Moreover, 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 spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No 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. Hebrews 12:9-11
INSIGHT
God is our loving FATHER. Pause for a moment and reflect on that statement. Are you unsure what to do with it? Does it make you uneasy? Do you hesitate to believe it is true? Is it hard for you to associate the act of love with your picture of a father?
Maybe your dad was cold and distant, which makes you feel as though you were an inconvenience to him. Perhaps your dad was never around, so you are going off assumptions you've developed regarding the role of a father. Your picture of a father may be one who is either indifferent or walks away when things get complicated. Maybe your dad was physically present but emotionally distant or pushed you to perform to receive his attention or affection.
On the other hand, maybe your dad was your best friend, your biggest supporter, and your greatest encourager. His door was always open, and his ear was always available. He wasn't perfect but owned up to his mistakes.
For good or for bad, our earthly fathers shaped our picture of God as our Heavenly Father more than anything else. We must pause and consider the image we hold of God. Is it one shaped by our earthly examples or one grounded in the truths found in Scripture? Scripture is clear that God created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-28). Let that sink in: we are image-bearers. This sounds good, but you might be wondering what that even means.
Here is one way to think of it. Has anyone ever said that you look like your father? Maybe they pointed out a physical resemblance like your hair, eyes, or smile. There is no escaping it. You share the same DNA. As you grew older, the similarities between your father and you might have come out through your personality, interests, or temperament. "Like father, like son" is how the old saying goes.
God created us to imitate and reflect His character. Our job is to reflect this image in every aspect of our lives. It should influence the way we view work, lead others, and pursue our relationships. It must redefine our perception of success, influence, and purpose. It should rearrange our priorities and pursuits. Being an image-bearer alters the things that make us angry, the things that capture our attention, and the things we devote our time and energy toward.
If you never met your biological father, it would be impossible to know how to reflect his image. The same holds with our responsibility as an image-bearer of God. To reflect God's heart, we need to know God's heart. Everything hinges on our understanding of the character of God as well as our new identity in Christ. In John 15, we learn that this occurs when we abide in Him.
As an individual pursues God, they begin to live out who they're supposed to be – namely an image-bearer. The changes that take place in our character are not a matter of pure self-will, but rather a by-product of walking with God.
REFLECTION
How would you describe the relationship you had with your father?
How has your image of God as your Heavenly Father been shaped over the years?
PRAYER
God, thank You for being my loving Father. May I look to You as my example of how I should love and care for others. Help me to take the responsibility of being an image-bearer seriously. Let my words and my actions reflect Your heart. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
