Crossroads Community Church

June 20, 2013 · 0 Comments

“Dads are like chocolate cream filled candy, a little hard on the outside but soft and sweet on the inside”

Father’s Day turned out to be a wonderful sunshine filled day, Pastor Don came to greet everyone, share announcements and prayer. The worship was filled with praises to our heavenly Father. Pastor Don read the weekly verse Exodus 20:12, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” To honor your parents means to speak well of them and show them respect. Unfortunately many of us have had rebellious stages in our lives and have not always done so. In today’s generation respect for fathers is shown less and less. Just a few generations ago Fathers were revered when the Father’s Day holiday was established by President Calvin Coolidge on June 19th, 1924. This was the result of a 25 year effort by Senora Smartdod who had been raised by her widowed father.

Let us now examine the story of The Prodigal Son and focus on the example of the father in Luke 15:11-32; we know that he had 2 sons, and that one of them claimed his inheritance thinking he would fare better on his own and set off away from home. After sometime he had squandered all of it. He then found himself broke and hungry working at a less than adequate job, that is when he realized how much he truly had back home. Not knowing what was waiting for him if he returned he was even ready to humbly ask his father to hire him as a servant, he was remorseful. This is a story for all of us, reminding us that a Father may seem a little hard on the outside but soft on the inside, like a cream filled candy. The Father in this story shows us what the love of a father will do for his child. The first characteristic he displays is his ability to provide for his family, (1Timothy 5:8),

If someone would ask us if our father was successful what would we say? Would we base our answer on how extravagant our house was or cool our car was and how much money he had? There is a huge difference between wants and needs, if you had a father who provided food, clothes and shelter you had a good father. The true measure of success is a man’s good honest reputation and the respect he has from his family.

So if this father was a good man, doesn’t it seem unwise for him to give his son all that money? By today’s standards maybe, but in the end the father knew his son had lessons to learn on his own. As parents we need to learn to let go of our children trusting that God is leading them and protecting them. Even when they get into trouble God is watching over them and teaching them. Eventually they all learn to respect and appreciate what they once had. Most of us can attest to this, the hard knocks of life bring us back to the one that takes care of us, we become remorseful and repent. After we repent, there is forgiveness and salvation. As in this story, the father received his son so does our heavenly Father. He welcomes us home with great joy and celebration, with open arms and unconditional love. This father portrays the perfect Father, God’s unwavering love, unending patience and generous forgiveness.

Beloved God is always watching and waiting for our return with loving compassion, soften your hearts and come near to the Father, he doesn’t turn any of his children away…Asherey Sahlom!

For more on this story please visit http://www.shelburnecrossroadschurch.ca