Entrusted Father's Day 2021

Being entrusted with something means that you are assigned the responsibility for someone/somethings care or protection. The word itself is weighty. We are entrusted with our bodies, our minds and our belongings. But more importantly we are entrusted with the future generation. For many of us, that means that we are entrusted with children to raise, for others it may be that they’re entrusted with the watch care of others’ children either in the classroom, on sports teams, or in children’s ministry. Each child that we have had, either biologically or through adoption, has been entrusted to us from God.

I often think about the first parents He entrusted His One and Only Son to. Mary and Joseph, an impractical and unusual choice for sure. If they would have gone through the adoption process, they would not have even passed the preliminary assessments. They weren’t married, they didn’t have any known experience with raising children, and they were young. But in all of His wisdom, God the Father saw that this couple could be entrusted to raise His beloved Son, Jesus. John 1:14 tells us, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The glory of God was revealed in a baby named Jesus and entrusted to parents who didn’t know what they were doing.

I think we can all relate to Mary and Joseph. How many people have ever felt fully equipped to raise a child? I remember when we had Jacob and Carsten held him for the first time. He had never held such a small baby, and his hands fully encompassed Jacob’s wee little body. Carsten was in awe, but it was mixed with a small amount of panic. When we were released from the hospital we both looked at each other and said, “Do we really know how to do this?”

I wonder what Joseph thought the first time he held baby Jesus in his arms. I’m sure he was exhausted, excited, and overwhelmed.

God the Father doesn’t choose perfect people or circumstances to accomplish His will.

One of the most beautiful things about the way God the Father works is He never chooses perfect people or circumstances to do His will. He seems to choose the imperfect so that His glory is revealed.

As all good Jewish families, Mary and Joseph took their family to Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover. This is where we are going to spend most of our time today. Luke 2:41-52 “Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

I love how real the Bible is! No hiding and pretending. These parents lost their son. Before we judge them too harshly we have to remember that when the families would travel to Jerusalem they would travel in a caravan. The children would be wandering back and forth between different families and friends. The idea “it takes a village” I think originated during this time! Everyone watched out for each other so you wouldn’t realize that someone was missing until you were ready to hunker down for the night. I can’t imagine the panic that engulfed their hearts when they couldn’t find the son God had entrusted to them. How could they have lost the One who was supposed to save the world? This just proves that there is no such thing as the perfect parent.

46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”  50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

The perfect Father- Son relationship is exhibited between Jesus and Father God. The ways that Jesus grew were exactly the ways that God wants all of His children to grow. In wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man. Let’s look at those a little closer.

2. Every good father wants his children to be wise.

And wisdom is something that must be cultivated in our lives. The word used here for wisdom is Sophia and it has two meanings.

Sophia is skill in the affairs of life, practical wisdom, and wise management as shown in forming the best plans and selecting the best means, including the idea of sound judgement and good sense.

Practical wisdom helps us put our skills and knowledge together in a way that helps us provide a life for ourselves and our families. It still amazes me that Jesus submitted himself to Joseph’s tutelage and learned to be a carpenter. The One who created all the different types of trees sat down next to his earthly father and learned how to whittle that wood into pieces of furniture. He used the wisdom he gleaned from Joseph to help provide for himself and his family. As a son, Jesus was teachable. He learned from Joseph just as He continually learned from His heavenly Father. He grew in practical wisdom.

As fathers, you have the great privilege of teaching your children all kinds of practical wisdom. What skill set do you have that you could pass on to the next generation? Maybe it’s mechanics, or hiking, or ranching, or managing a business. Maybe it’s teaching kids how to drive or cook. We want the next generation to have practical wisdom so that they can use sound judgement and good sense to make good decisions.

When Carsten is doing anything around the house or the yard, he usually takes at least one child with him. If he’s fixing fence, he always has one of the kids out there helping him. If he’s going to the hardware store, he always has a few in tow. He’s even been teaching the boys to drive while he goes and gets the mail. Honing in on those teachable moments will help children grow in practical wisdom that will help guide them through life.

The second definition for the word Sophia is:

2. In respect to divine things, sophia is wisdom, knowledge, insight, and deep understanding.

This is the wisdom we usually refer to in the church setting. Deep spiritual insight and knowledge. God the Father saw fit to have His Son grow in spiritual things while He dwelled on earth. That is hard for me to fathom. The One who was there at the creation of the world chose to come to earth and have to grow in divine things. While He sat at the feet of the religious leaders in Jerusalem on his three day hiatus, we are told that He listened and asked questions. He had a deep understanding and answered in profound ways, but He grew in His wisdom and regularly sought His heavenly Father’s counsel.

Fathers have the unique privilege of not only providing financially for their families, they are also called to provide spiritually for their families. The food that you help put on the table is only part of what God has called you to do.

Paul had a spiritual son named Timothy whom he loved and poured into during his ministry. While he was in prison, he wrote a couple letters to Timothy, trying to teach him as much as possible before his coming execution. In 2 Timothy Paul writes a beautiful appeal to Timothy. He wants to make sure that Timothy knows Jesus and His Gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9-14, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

Paul is imparting as much spiritual wisdom to Timothy as he possibly can. He reminds him of the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done. And he encourages Timothy to keep that as his pattern. The word used for pattern in this verse means an outline sketch, more like guidelines. Paul wanted Timothy to take the sound teaching he had learned from him as his spiritual father and apply it into his life. Paul didn’t want Timothy to make his ministry look exactly like Paul’s, he knew that Timothy’s faith would look different, but the bones would be there.

When fathers pass on their faith they have to make sure to let their children form their own faith using the guidelines they’re given. As long as Jesus remains the main thing, as long as the truth of His Gospel remains intact, as long as His life, death and resurrection are the core fundamental beliefs, the expression of that faith can look different. The worship music I like may not be the worship music my kids will like. The way I study the Bible might look different from the way they choose to study the Bible. The way I minister to others may look different from how they will minister to others. The main point is teach your children about Jesus! Fathers, you have a calling from God to help your children grow in their wisdom and understanding of who Jesus is. You won’t do it perfectly. You will fail at times. But do it anyway! Let your kids watch you read the Bible and pray. Let them ask hard questions about faith. Let them see Jesus grow more and more in you. When you fall, fall forward and let them see you pick yourself back up and keep running after Christ! You are depositing the Gospel into their lives when you do this. And that deposit will result in a beautiful legacy.

3. Every good father wants his children to grow and mature.

Getting back to Jesus and our story about his adolescence. We are told that He grew in wisdom and stature. We don’t know a lot about His stature except what we’re told in Isaiah 53:2, “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”

Jesus didn’t need to be the most handsome, the most muscular, the most popular, or the most athletic. When He spent hours in solitude talking to His Father, He wasn’t seeking advice on how He could be better at baseball or football. He wasn’t asking about the newest hairstyle or fashion trend. He was seeking His Father’s heart for His creation. He was seeking His Father’s will and being about His Father’s business. He was being filled up so that He could be poured out. In those moments with His Heavenly Father, He was being prepared for all that He would face on earth.

There are so many opportunities for fathers to help their children grow in stature. Sports aren’t a bad thing, but they aren’t the most important thing either. Being popular isn’t a bad thing, but it’s not the most important thing either. Being financially successful isn’t a bad thing, but it’s not the most important thing either. If you are modeling for your children what it looks like to grow in your relationship with God, then your children will see what it looks like to have a relationship with God. And that is the most important thing you can pass on to them. Grow in stature. Grow in maturity. Keep growing!

4. All good fathers want their children to grow in favor with God and with man.

At the end of this passage in Luke, we are told that Jesus grew in favor with God and with man. The word used here for favor is Charis, which means, grace, particularly that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, and acceptance. Jesus grew in favor with God which means that “their relationship became an increasing delight to both of them.” It’s hard for us to imagine the delight they found in their relationship. We can’t even begin to understand the beauty of their relationship.

Jesus also grew in favor with man. He didn’t seek recognition, but because of Who He was and Whose He was, people followed Him. I want you to think of characteristics of the people you are closest to. My devotion this week had me do this and here are some things I wrote down: loving, compassionate, joyful, a servant, relatable, caring, kind, patient, inquisitive, humble but strong, able to teach me new things. Jesus must have had this type of personality because people were drawn to Him. People don’t just leave their professions to follow someone they can’t stand.

If Jesus is the exact representation of the Father, then we know what the Father is like. Children often become the representation of their parents. Boys will become like their fathers. And if you want your child to be someone who grows in favor with God and man, then you need to model that for them. And the only way you can model that for them is if you have the Holy Spirit filling you up every single day so you can be poured out into the lives of your children or spiritual offspring.

Our Heavenly Father wanted His Son to grow in wisdom, stature and favor. I think that that is also the desire of every father in this room, for themselves and for their children. My question to you is, which area do you need to grow in? Do you use practical wisdom to help provide for your family? Do you have deep spiritual wisdom to help your family grow closer to Christ? Do you need to mature in your relationship with Christ? Are you consistently maturing in a way that reveals Christ more and more to your family and those God has entrusted to you?

Fathers, your role is vital in the Kingdom, and your job is never done! Keep pursing Jesus with all you are and with all you have. Keep falling forward and keep getting back up. Keep pouring yourself out because the next generation is worth it!

Lets pray.

The New International Version. (2011). (Is 53:2). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

The New International Version. (2011). (2 Ti 1:9–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.