The Character of The Father

This message is not just for father’s.

This message is for every person made in the image of God

Genesis 1:26–27 NKJV

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Both men & women are made in God’s image.

As a father, I have often felt like:

I don’t know what I’m doing

I’m doing it wrong

I’m not doing it good enough

Other fathers are doing the fathering thing so much better than I am.

I’m gonna screw up these awesome kids that God entrusted me with.

I want to tell you something that God told me and I pray that it comforts you as it did me:

“You don’t have to do things perfectly, you just need to have a perfect heart (My heart) & follow My example”- God

There were people who did all the right things, but with the wrong heart & it wasn’t pleasing to God - (King Amaziah - 2 Chronicles 25:2)

By the way,

If God’s grace is not enough to heal, protect, and restore greater than our mistakes, then His grace is not very powerful, is it?!

1 John 4:20 NKJV

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

We have the honor, privilege, and responsibility to be God’s representatives through our life.

We get to visibly demonstrate God’s nature to those around us, most intensely & in greatest measure to our family first.

Children learn to submit to & obey a God they cannot see by learning to submit to and obey a loving parent they can see.

Let’s take a look at the Standards of a Good Father that God has demonstrated for us to follow for our children and for all who meet us.

God’s image and, by extension, His children’s image is exactly what love looks like.

1 John 4:16 NKJV

16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Here is what love & our God looks like:

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 HCSB

4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, 5 does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for languages, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

Let’s take a “Mirror Moment” with this passage and really let it into our heart.

Let’s hit some of the big ones, shall we?:

Friends,

Are we being patient and kind with one another and/or with our children?

Are we behaving in a proper manner - Not doing the, “Do what I say, not what I do” thing?

Are we being selfish with our time, energy, or attention rather than giving it away?

-We need balance, but we also need to be purposefully investing

-As a homeschooling parent, I know how much I’ve wanted “a break” sometimes

Are we being easily provoked and friending, parenting & disciplining out of irritation or out of care and concern for the other’s wellbeing?

Are we keeping a record of wrongs and just adding mistakes to peoples’ tabs?

Are we giving up on one another just because it’s not easy or doesn’t look like things are going to change?

Lean on God’s Grace:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is the standard of a Perfect Father.

We have all fallen short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 3:23-24 (NLT)

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

It’s never too late to repent & change from where we’ve missed it and ask for God’s help to be like Him.

This is the perfect time and situation to lean on His grace rather than our own strength.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

It’s Already Inside:

Believe it or not, you already have the great love of God in your heart if you’ve received Jesus as your savior and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as The Helper.

Now we just need to daily walk in the love of God and it takes Faith to do so!

Romans 5:5 (WUESTNT)

And this hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts and still floods them through the agency of the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Make this Daily Confession of the truth:

I am full of the Love of God & I am showing His love through my life

Just One Thing:

Sets your sights on The Standard & celebrate every win you have - You’re changing and becoming just like Your Father.

Discussion Questions:

What’s something that everyone knows is true, but we don’t like to admit it?

When you hear the Biblical description of love, God’s Character, what thoughts and feelings about that description run through your heart and mind?

Please read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (perhaps in a number of different translations you have available to you) & share which descriptors bless you the most & challenge you the most personally.

Please share with your group the Character of God (Love) that you want to grow in most. Share a little bit about why you want to grow in that area.