When we placed our faith in Christ, we were adopted into a new family.
Dare 2 Share - You are doing the things your own father does." "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! (John 8:41-45)
Once there was a father and his little child walking along a beach. As they strolled along the seashore, the dad suddenly noticed that his son was walking a little ways behind him. When he asked him why he was lagging behind, his son replied: “I’m walking in your footsteps, Daddy”.
This weekend we honor our earthly fathers because fatherhood is an honorable institution in this nation. In fact, the idea for “Father’s Day” came from a woman who was raised by a single dad. She wanted to honor his self-sacrifice and commitment in the midst of difficult circumstances.
In the spiritual sense, everyone on earth has a father as well. In our passage today, Jesus is pointing out that before we were Christians, we followed in the footsteps of our former ‘parent’- Satan. He was raising us to be heartless, deceptive, and cruel. He didn’t care about our well-being, and the legacy he wanted to leave was a lifestyle of sin and destruction.
When we placed our faith in Christ, we were adopted into a new family. Our heavenly Father sacrificed His own Son so that we wouldn’t be trapped with our satanic family. He shows us a new way of living, so that we can love Jesus and others and tell them about a relationship with our new “Dad”. He loves us unconditionally, thinks about us constantly, and provides for us daily. The problem is that sometimes we still hear the voice of our old father and listen. We give in to unforgivness and hatred, thinking that we are being obedient to our father.
Christian, you have been set free from your old family. As you walk down the ‘beach’ of life following in your spiritual father’s footsteps, be careful whose tracks you are following. Satan will plead and beg with you to return to your old ways and destroy yourself and the people around you, but God the Father is ever faithful to lead you down the path of righteousness.
This Father’s Day, honor your earthly father, and honor your heavenly Father. Listen to His voice, and obey His instruction. Tell others about the opportunity they have to ‘change families’ and follow the Father who knows best.
Questions:
1) In thinking back over the last year, which spiritual father have you followed more?
2) Are you willing to tell your unsaved friends about their chance to be adopted by God the Father?
