It is that time of year when the thoughts of many turns to honor and remember fathers. Many will give cards and gifts, and some will go to their dad’s favorite restaurant, and still, others will visit the final resting place of their father or take a moment to reflect on their father’s influence on their life. I will interject here that not everyone had a ‘good’ biological father, but from my many interactions with individuals over the years, I have found that everyone I have talked with had some gentleman in their life that provided positive guidance and motivation that a father should. This does not always come in the years of one’s youth, but at some point, they appear and become a part of an individual’s life, even if it is for a short season.
I want to encourage everyone to take some time and express gratitude to those men who either were or filled the gap as a father in your life. It does not need to be some grand gesture…it is amazing how much a simple card of thanks and acknowledgment is for an individual’s positive impact in your life, father or not. And remember, just like a new year’s resolution, you do not have to wait for a specific time of year to roll around to express gratitude to those father figures in your life. You can do it often throughout the year.
To all the men out there reading this article, I want to encourage you to be a father. Be a father to your kids and other children who might not have that figure in their lives. Speak kindly, provide life insights, answer questions, listen to what they say, and encourage and motivate. If more men stepped up to the plate and provide a strong positive influence in the life of our young people, I believe the next generation will see vast improvements in our world. And if you are a man doing your best to be that positive influence, that good role model…thank you…thank you for stepping up and giving it your all to improve your children’s lives and other young folks’ lives.
Let’s shift lanes now and turn our attention to the Father of us all. Let us not forget this time of year, and every single day for that matter, to thank God the Father for all He has done to provide us with wisdom, insight, and knowledge that contain the keys to peace and salvation. This is the very truth Paul reminded Timothy of in 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Paul was like a good father to Timothy, as is evident in the fact that Paul refers to Timothy in both of these as his son; “To Timothy, a true son in the faith…” (1 Timothy 1:2); “To Timothy, a beloved son…” (2 Timothy 1:2). Paul was a strong positive influence in the life of Timothy, and the best influence that Paul could provide is to encourage Timothy to maintain a good relationship with the Father of us all. This is the greatest thing any man can do to aid in connecting and keeping another connected with the Father above.
God has done a lot for each and every one of us. The greatest act that God has performed on our behalf is the one He performed through His Son…and it is by this act that we all can become God’s adopted child. I want to leave you with a somewhat long reading from Galatians 3:26-4:7.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father! Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
(Carl Hartman is the Minister at Main Street Church of Christ in Lockney)
