Gifts from your Father…The Gift of Claiming Us!
This week’s devotions are based on “Gifts from Our Father!” (WATCH HERE)
“That’s not my kid!” says the organized mom as her child leaves a room a mess.
“That’s not my kid!” says the tough dad as his child bawls at a little skinned knee.
There are times in parenting when our child does something that is different than how we would operate or react and we in jest say, “That’s not my child.”
However, there is a sad reality that there are times when a child is abandoned and both parents don’t want anything to do with the child. Or the child has done great harm to himself and his family and all ties are cut off. No one wants to claim the child as his own.
In a healthy family dynamic, children take for granted that they belong to their mother and father. They trust that they will be there, that they will be provided for and cared for. To be rejected would be devastating.
Claiming a child as your own is often a sense of pride too for a parent. Ask the parents of a star athlete, “That’s MY kid!” Ask the parents of a child who is praised by their boss for great work performance, “That’s my kid!”
Parents, in general, are proud to claim their children as their own, whether that child is biologically theirs or theirs by adoption. Children desire the security of knowing they belong to a mom and a dad.
Being claimed by a parent is a gift. It means we are part of their family.
When Jesus was baptized, his Father said, “This is my son.”
God the Father in the listening ears of those around claimed Jesus as his own. Jesus heard it and the crowd heard it.
We do not share the same relationship as the Son does to the Father, but pretty close. God the Father has put his name on us so we can be 100% secure that we are part of his family. In baptism God put his name on us and claimed us as his own. “This is MY son!” “This is MY daughter!”
Galatians 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
To be sure we have given our heavenly Father many reasons to say, “I don’t know that kid.” Our sin separates us from our God. It leaves God many reasons to NOT claim us as his own. But he chooses, by his love, grace and forgiveness, to leave his name on us and remind us we ARE his children. This is a gift from our heavenly Father!
This is a gift we as dads (and moms, but again focusing on the important role of a dad this week) can give to our children. Our children need to hear and be reminded that you are proud to have your name on them. To hear you say with joy and pride, “That’s my kid!”
Sure, they give you many reasons to say, “That’s not MY kid.” But that’s where we as dads get to also express the love and forgiveness that our heavenly Father shows to us. We get to forgive. We get to show grace. We get to restore. We get to give guidance and wisdom. We get to influence the children God has given to us to walk in his love and grace because they are our kids AND His kids!
Apply: Tell your children today, “I am proud to have you as my son/my daughter.”
Prayer: Father thank you for continuing to claim me as your own, even though my sin gives you many reasons not to. Help me share this same gift with my children today or someday. AMEN.
Gifts from your Father…the Gift of Presence!
This week’s devotions are based on “Gifts from Our Father!” (WATCH HERE)
In my almost 20 years of parenting career, I can’t count how many times I have heard the call, “Dad!” In the early years it wasn’t articulated, but just a cry said the same thing. Sometimes the word “Dad” was followed by phrases such as…
- “Where are you?”
- “Can you fix my bike?”
- “Do you know where my water bottle is?”
- “I forgot my lunch.”
And the list goes on.
These requests of Dad are for help. From the simple and mundane to perhaps the more troubling or complex. A child loves to know Dad is close by to help.
The gift of presence is also being there for important events.
- “Dad, are you coming to my game?”
- “Dad, are you able to come to the awards night?”
- “Dad, did you see me make that shot?”
We want our Dad there when the event is important to us and we want him to notice and affirm the activity that takes place.
To be sure, I am not minimizing moms who are there and present, perhaps often more than dads are. But the gift of presence is an important gift to give our children.
At the baptism of Jesus, the Father in heaven was not going to miss it. He wanted Jesus to know he was there as well as he wanted those around the event to know he was there. Perhaps one might not think it was a big deal, but if you wanted validity to what you were doing and credibility to who you are, having your Father in heaven be there to give both is a wonderful gift.
The amazing thing is our heavenly Father gives us the give of presence in our lives. We maybe wish at times he were visible or his voice was audible, but his presence is real. He promised to the people of Israel through Moses,
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Having Dad there when you are doing something hard or scary for the first time brings peace and strength. The Lord was promising his people that as they went into the land of Canaan and faced the opposition, he would be with them. There would never be a time when he was not present.
This gift of our Father’s presence is a wonderful gift to us Dads. We can be somewhat independent and feel like we have to carry the burdens of our family and situations. Maybe we forget that our heavenly Father is present for us to talk to, to unload our burdens, to walk with us through uncertain times, or to give us wisdom and guidance when we need it (and when we don’t think we need it!). He is there for all events of our life and knows what we need and when we need it. He loves to be with us, bless us and guide us through life.
Dads, don’t forget this amazing gift of your heavenly Father’s presence.
Don’t forget either that you now have the opportunity to extend this gift to your family. Work is important. Hobbies can be fun, but remember your children, your spouse, your family sometimes just needs you to be present with them in the quiet times and in the important times.
Apply: What might be one way you can be more present with your children/grand children this week and let them know that you are there to be with them, encourage them, and support them.
Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for being present in my life in all times and all circumstances. Help me be a dad who readily gives the gift of presence for my children and spouse. AMEN.
Happy Father’s Day!
This week’s devotions are based on “Gifts from Our Father!” (WATCH HERE)
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who read these devotions! Your impact and influence and importance in the life of your children should never be underestimated. You are a gift from God to them as you seek to bring God’s gifts to them!
Fatherhood is one of God’s designed for the health of children and of society. Everything that by God’s grace we are able to do and encourage men in the role they have been given is so important in a society that often diminishes, discourages, and discounts the men who desire to faithfully carry out this role.
What helps me be a godly Dad is to be reassured and reminded of my relationship with my heavenly Father. In this week’s message we focused on the baptism of Jesus and interaction with his Son on that special occasion when Jesus was set aside in a public way for the ministry of teaching and miracle working and most importantly his path to the cross and the empty tomb to do the work of saving humanity from the guilt and consequence of sin. The miraculous interaction of the Trinity expresses itself as the Father affirms his Son as the Spirit of God descends on him. Certainly this connection is closer and more divine than any human relationship, however is it possible to look at the interaction of the Father with his Son and see if and what part of this relationship is also true of our heavenly Father’s relationship with us.
Here’s what happened at Jesus’ baptism, recorded in Matthew 3:16-17: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
One might say that the words the Father spoke were for those that were gathered around so that they would know that Jesus was the Son of God and the focus of the Father’s love and good pleasure. Yes it was for those around. But to be sure the human/divine Savior Jesus would have been filled to hear his Father speak these words about him. These words are affirming. They are enduring. They are motivating.
One only has to imagine the opposite of these words being spoken and the consequences would have been catastrophic. If the Father DID NOT claim his Son, DID NOT love his Son or was NOT well pleased with him, not only would his credibility with the crowd have been crushed but the human psyche that desires the love and affirmation of a Father would have been smashed.
So while the words the Father spoke were special and unique as they were spoken to his Son, Jesus, they are words that are indicative of the Father’s gift to us as well. And then one must ask, “As one who has received these gifts from our heavenly Father, are they also gifts we as earthly fathers want to do our best to pass on to our children? Absolutely.
I look forward to unpacking these gifts in the devotions this week, but for this morning I invite us simply to consider, “What would it mean to me if God would say of me…’This is my son/daughter, whom I love; with him/her I am well-pleased?’” Would it change your day? Your energy? Your confidence? Your faith?
I believe it truly does.
Apply: How many times have you heard your dad say, “You are my son/daughter. I love you. I am well-pleased with you”? When you did, how did it make you feel?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of fatherhood, but especially the gift it is to call you my Father. Today I simply ask that this relationship be real and present in my day. AMEN.
Lessons from Legos – Part 5
This week’s devotions are based on “We’re in this Together!” (WATCH HERE)
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
We started this week with the somewhat silly statement, “You don’t have to be part of a Lego kit to be a Lego.” At its base premise, a Lego is a Lego regardless of its participation in a Lego kit or project. However, the purpose of the creation of a Lego brick would be grossly missed and the purpose of that brick never fully realized if it never was used in the kit or creation for which it was made.
As we end this week reflecting on Legos and the body of Christ, my prayer is that when we change the word “Lego” to “Christian” we realize that we too miss out on the blessing and purpose of being a Christian if we isolate ourselves from other Christians and do not participate in the work of the Body of Christ. Do you have to be part of a Christian church to be a Christian? By strict definition, “No.” Yet, just as a Lego will never realize the blessing and purpose of being a Lego if isolated, so a Christian will miss out on a great blessing the Lord has given to him or her if one remains on the sidelines. You were created in Christ for good works he also has prepared for you and some of those good works are ones you are equipped and gifted to do with other Christians as part of a local manifestation of the Body of Christ.
EACH one of you is part of the Body of Christ. No exceptions. No excuses.
This isn’t a club over the head, but a loving encouragement and I really don’t know how to say it without a level of directness that just wants every person to be an active member of the Body of Christ and see what God can do when EVERY one of his children combines their gifts with others to bring the Gospel to the world.
Collectively we have been given the privilege to be part of the Lord’s work. He gives us individual opportunities, but has always been a group activity too. Sometimes the church is like a football game. 22 participants and thousands of spectators. That is an exaggeration, but what would the impact be for the Gospel when EVERY one of you saw your special gifting and the reality that God has put you in a place to join with other Christians to grow and spread the Gospel in your community? It’s easy to let work, sports, hobbies, life, etc. take the priority. So hear is my challenge to each of us.
Don’t be an isolated Lego piece. Don’t be an isolated Christian.
You have been created in Christ to be not only heirs of heaven, but active participants in the Body of Christ. If these devotions encourage one reader to become an active participant in the Body of Christ, I praise God for that.
YOU ARE the Body of Christ and EACH ONE of you is part of it!
Enjoy all the blessings of being a unique, gifted, loved part of the Body of Christ!
Apply: If you have been active part of the body of Christ, what have been the blessings you experienced? If you have been sitting on the sidelines, what is one way you can offer your gifts to the Gospel ministry of your local church?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for making me your child and putting me in the Body of Christ. Forgive me for my apathy and sitting on the sidelines. Empower me by your Spirit to use the gifts you have given me to make an impact for your Gospel message in my community. AMEN.
Lessons from Legos – Part 4
This week’s devotions are based on “We’re in this Together!” (WATCH HERE)
Not “just a stand.”
This past Sunday, each attender at the worship service picked up a Lego brick on their way into the service. During the message, I had our middle school students go through the congregation and ask for the Lego brick from each person in attendance. However, before the brick was turned over the student had to say, “We need you!” Every brick is an important part of the Body of Christ.
Once all the bricks were collected, the three kids went to work to form them into some representation of the Body of Christ. Their first iteration was the bricks formed into a corner angle. When asked what they represented, one of them said, “Christ is the cornerstone and we’re all built around him!”
Perfect! Great example of what the Apostle Peter wrote about in his first letter chapter 2:
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
But then I asked them, “Could you reform the bricks into something that makes a cross? The picture on this devotion is what they came up with. I asked them to describe their creation. One said, “It’s a cross.” I said, “That’s great! What’s this behind it?” To which the student responded, “It’s just a stand.”
“Hmm, just a stand?” I asked?
“To hold up the cross,” they responded.
“Would anyone see the cross if there wasn’t a stand to hold it up? Or would more people see the cross if the stand was holding it up?” I continued.
“Well, I guess more would see it with a stand.”
What a great teaching opportunity and the dialogue could not have illustrated the point more clearly. The stand was not “just a stand.” The stand was a CRUCIAL part of the whole. Without the stand, the cross would not be seen.
Paul reminds us that there are no “just a” pieces in the Body of Christ. We don’t have to have false humility or diminish our role. God has given us the gifts he wants us to have. Some of those gifts are more visible and prominent, other roles are weaker and less prominent…but each of them have the same purpose and value: To proclaim Christ to the world.
That really is the purpose of the Body of Christ – to proclaim Christ to the world. It takes all kinds of people with different gifts. God gives to each one as he determines and never says, “You’re just a…” but rather with confidence he says, “YOU ARE a key part of the Body of Christ. Without you, the body suffers and the mission to proclaim the Gospel suffers.”
So never underestimate your value and contribution to the Body of Christ. Sure some may be more visible and out front, but even what seems like the most menial task of support is an important and key part of the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Apply: Have you ever diminished the gifts God has given to you by saying, “I’m just a…”? Remember that there are not “just a’s” in the Body of Christ. He has put you EXACTLY where he wants you to be!
Prayer: Lord thank you for arranging all of us as parts of your body to be exactly where you want us to be to do exactly what you want us to do for the glory of God and the advancement of your Gospel message. AMEN