Scripture: 30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. 32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. 33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.
[2 Corinthians 11:30-33 NLT] Not everybody has a great example in their life of what it means to be a father. I’m not necessarily talking about the really bad examples like the ones found on Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, or other shows. There just are some fathers who do not fulfill the role in an admirable way. Now, before we are too hard on the earthly fathers we have been given, let’s remember that there is no fatherhood manual passed out when someone becomes a father. Some simply do a better job of figuring it out than others. Some fathers truly work hard at becoming the best father they can. I can honestly say that I had a great example of what it means to be a father. My earthly father did not have the best environment growing up. He made a decision that he would give his children the best possible home life he could. I can say, as his son, that my dad did just that. Of course, he wasn’t perfect (only one human being ever was). My dad was an example of what it meant to be a supportive, loving, disciplined, providing, and faithful father here on earth. I will be forever in his debt for all of the life lessons he has taught me through his example of fatherhood. Our Scripture for today contains the Apostle Paul’s heartfelt love for his heavenly Father. Paul mentioned that he has gone through a lot in carrying out the ministry to which God called him. Paul had been beaten, falsely accused, in prison, and sent all the way to Rome to face trial. He says that he is weak and that in all of the things he has faced he still praises God the Father. In fact, Paul says, “God, the Father of our Lord Jesus … is to be praised forever …” Even though Paul went through a lot of suffering he still says God the Father is to be praised forever. Through all that Paul went through in life the one constant and faithful presence was God the Father. That is surely praiseworthy. God the Father is with you every step of the way as well. No matter what type of earthly father you experienced, your loving heavenly Father has been with you. God’s unchangeable presence is the one constant we have in our life as well. God is always there to comfort us in our sorrow, give us peace in the chaos of life, offer forgiveness when we sin, and love us beyond measure no matter what we have done. There is something powerful about knowing that God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is also our heavenly Father. Listen to the lyrics of the worship song “Good Good Father” by written by Pat Barrett and Tony Brown: You’re a good good father, it’s who you are, and I am loved by you, it’s who I am. Today praise God the Father for the example of what it means to have a Father in heaven who is good. Praise God for all the ways that God the Father has blessed you and your family. Some ways will be more obvious than others. Spend time today seeking to understand all the ways God the Father has been involved in your life and showered you with goodness. God is a good good Father, it’s who God is. You are loved by God, it’s who you are. For that alone, God is worthy to be praised forever. Prayer: Father God, you are such a good Father to me. I praise you for all the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness you have extended to me. Empower me to praise you throughout today and every day. Thank you for showering your love on me today. Amen.