Not long ago a chaplain in a federal prison came up with the idea of helping convicts honor their mothers on Mother’s Day. A greeting card company furnished Mother’s Day cards for the prisoners. All an inmate had to do was pick up a card and mail it to his mother. Almost all of the prisoners responded to the opportunity. More than 500 inmates requested and mailed the free Mother’s Day cards!
Inspired by the success of that project, the chaplain decided to do the same thing for Father’s Day. Again, the company furnished the cards, and the prisoners only had to ask for them and mail them. But the result was shockingly different. Not one inmate requested a Father’s Day card for his dad!
Fortunately, not every man or woman who grows up without a good father lands in jail. But many are scarred for life by the experience. It is such a common problem that, if you have enjoyed a meaningful relationship with your father, you are especially blessed and have much for which you can be thankful.
Did you realize that you can have a relationship with the true God as your own Father?
As for me, I grew up without a father. My father had no desire whatsoever to be part of my life. He never took me fishing. He never played ball with me. He never said, “That’s good, son.” His lack of involvement in my life deeply wounded me and created a terrible sense of insecurity, guilt and fear, feelings that handicapped me emotionally for many years. It was only when I met Jesus, and He introduced me to His perfect, heavenly Father, that I was able to overcome the hurts of the past and find real meaning in life.
I am so grateful that although I never had a healthy relationship with my earthly father, I did come to know God as the loving, attentive Father He is. As a result, I have been able to share great joy with many people. I have seen thousands upon thousands come to know God as their Father. This is a most joyous experience for me.
Regardless of our backgrounds, circumstances, failures or successes, each of us has a deep and very real personal need for a relationship with God as Father. He is the one and only perfect Father, the one from whom all effective fathers must ultimately learn. He is the all-knowing, all-caring, all-sufficient, almighty God. In His written Word, the Bible, God reveals Himself to us as our Father.
Because of Jesus, who has done the most to teach us, we can address this supernatural being as our personal Father. In the model prayer, commonly known as “The Lord’s Prayer,” Jesus tells us to begin prayer by saying, “Our Father which art in heaven.” The apostle Paul assures us that we can speak to God using the intimate word for “Father,” the Greek word “Abba.”
Jesus continually referred to God as His Father. Over and over, He stressed that we could know God as our Father too. Regardless of how great a father we may have on this earth, there is no father like God.
These excerpts are taken from James Robison’s book, Knowing God as Father. If you want to experience a personal, loving relationship with God as your Father, please contact us. If you’re interested in James’ book, you can learn more here.
