I just wanted to post some thoughts I have had today about something that Laura Seals (our wonderful, talented Sunday School teacher) mentioned in her lesson today. We are studying the story of Job, and she brought out that Job took his position as a father seriously – even to the point that after his kids partied, he offered sacrifices for them just in case they had sinned. From this sprang a discussion about the importance of the role of a father in his kids’ lives.
I personally am from a divorced home. While this has impacted me tremendously in many negative ways, I have in the past few years discovered that God has blessed me with two dads – they are both very different, but looking at the two, I see different aspects of God reflected in each of their lives. I realize that I am blessed to have them both, and I love them tremendously.
I cannot in any way underestimate the role of a father in the lives of his children. It is through our fathers that we begin to see the love of God. It is through them that we begin to see the face of God. Just talk to anyone who has been abused by his/her earthly father and ask questions about his/her idea of our heavenly father. Many people who have suffered abuse from their fathers tend to view God in a disciplinarian fashion, as one who has little compassion and is unconcerned with our daily lives.
This reminded me of Martin Luther. There is a movie out called Luther that is about his life. This is one of my favorite movies, and I highly recommend it. In the movie, Luther’s father was extremely critical of his actions and showed little (if any) love toward Luther. Later in the movie, Luther is being tormented by thoughts of how worthless and unworthy he is. A priest, in the middle of Luther’s torment, asks Luther what he wants (from God). Luther responds that he wants a God he can love and who will love him.
How are our children to know that God loves them unconditionally, if fathers (and mothers) do not show them that unconditional love? What an awesome responsibility with which God has entrusted our fathers!
Dee
