Father's Day Sermon

 

June 20, 2021

 

To The Fathers

Proverbs 23:22-26

 

We are going to briefly look at several scriptures about fathers this morning as we celebrate Father’s Day. I do not know all of you well enough to have known all of the fathers of those here this morning. I pray everyone here today, as well as those sharing on Facebook, has many good memories of your earthly fathers. The verses we looked at to begin with this morning talk of the importance of both our fathers and mothers. God’s perfect plan is for children to have both an involved mother and father in our lives. Unfortunately, that is not always the case and those children without truly struggle. More often than not, if there is a single parent in the home, it is normally the mother who must take on all the responsibility for raising the children. In those cases, if the mother has a relationship with the Lord, she knows there is help available. In 2 Corinthians 6:18 it says, “I will be a father to you and you will be my sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty.” God will be there to encourage everyone, especially in times of specific need.

As I look out at those in the sanctuary, I see many fathers this morning.

I have been in situations that have allowed me to see some of you showing love and support to your children. With others I just have not had that same experience. I feel confident, though, every father here this morning has tried your best to raise the children God has blessed you with. There is no perfect earthly father in spite of our best efforts. God the Father will fill in the gaps we may leave. If you have read some of the life stories of the great men of the Old Testament, you will find virtually every single one has their strong points and every single one has places where they fall short when it comes to parenting. Let us look at what a father’s responsibility is according to scripture.

 

Proverbs 13:1 says a wise son heeds his father’s instruction. Before we look at any more verses, let us all understand while it may mention a father’s son it is also just as important for the daughters to learn from their father as well. Proverbs 15:5 says, “A fool spurns his father’s discipline.” In other words, when you need correction, accept it and learn from it as well as the instruction we receive. And continuing on that theme, Hebrews even tells fathers, “You must be willing to discipline your children when it is necessary for their good.” These verses show how God the Father and our earthly fathers will at times need to discipline us for our own good. Hebrews 12:5-11 says, “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons. My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline, God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined, and everyone undergoes discipline, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respect them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our own good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Many of us here this morning have had our earthly father already pass on ahead of us.  From a personal standpoint, this is the first Father’s Day my dad is not alive to wish a Happy Father’s Day. This is also true of the Arnold Schultz family and many more in the Cerro Gordo area and beyond. At the same time, I once again look out here in the sanctuary and see many fathers here this morning and others who I am sure are sharing with us on Facebook as well.

 

As we have read in the verses we looked at this morning, fathers have important jobs to do. It does not matter how old or how young a father might be. God has work for us to do. And be assured for those who have had little involvement from an earthly father, God the Father is there for you. As we celebrate this day, I ask each of you to think of something that made your dad special to you. We should never forget. We also have a heavenly Father. We should take some time to give a special thank you to our Heavenly Father as well. To the fathers here in the sanctuary and those watching, thank you for all you have done in the past and continue to do in the present. We children at times do not say it often enough but we do appreciate how you make a difference in our lives. That goes for you grandfathers and great grandfathers as well. Keep doing what God is calling you to do and that is to be a father.

 

Have a great Father’s Day! Whether we always see it or not, your children, grandchildren and in some cases great grandchildren need you and are watching and listening. God bless you all!