Message summary: Today whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever your experience has been with an earthly father, the Lord Almighty, our perfect heavenly Father, has a call to all, "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me."

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"Your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48b). "'And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,' says the Lord Almighty'" (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Yesterday was Father's Day here in the U.S. providing extra incentive for children to honor the fifth commandment and personally express how special their father is to them. Families gathered for cookouts, fishing, camping, etc. honoring their dads. And for many others it was a time of remembrance since our fathers have departed from life on this earth.

But for some it was not a day of celebration but rather a day every year that brings unpleasant memories. Our pastor thoughtfully acknowledged this in his opening prayer (link below). There are those who do not have a good relationship with their father and so many have never even met their birth father. There are those who are estranged from their father and those who did not receive loving recognition from their children.

We certainly see this brokenness in our chaplain ministry. One worker shared with me that, during his childhood years, his father would leave him in the car during extreme cold and hot weather, while he bar-hopped and womanized. This was in addition to the physical abuse he endured. To this day this man has a very poor relationship with his father, although he is still trying to do the right thing in helping care for him during his old age. Sadly, this model of fatherhood has been a great detriment to him in placing his trust in a good, good heavenly Father.

Thankfully, most of us testify to having good fathers and, hopefully, if you are a father you are a good father! However none of us had perfect fathers nor are there any perfect fathers reading this! There is only one perfect father, our heavenly Father. Jesus taught, "Your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48b).

Yesterday we sang a popular song in church that seemed fitting for the day titled, "Good, Good, Father". What a wonderful blessing that regardless of any deficiencies in our earthly fathers we have a good, good heavenly father!


Today's second text is a verse not often cited. In over 20 years of writing these messages I've never even used it as a reference. But today it is especially blessing me.

Consider it as a personal message from our good, good Father: "'And I will be a Father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,' says the Lord Almighty".

Today whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever your experience has been with an earthly father, the Lord Almighty, our perfect heavenly Father, has a call to all, "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me."


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, You are a good, good Father. It's who You are and we are blessed by Your goodness, Your love, and Your provision for salvation through the sacrificial death of Your only Son, Jesus. We pray for our earthly fathers who seek to raise their children in the ways of the Lord. May they be an example  of godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

---

---

"Good, Good Father"  Video   Calvary Church worship service, begins with Pastor Eckert's prayer for fathers.

"What A Beautiful Name/Agnus Dei"  Video  Travis Cottrell with Lily Cottrell

Finally today: