Today is Fathers’ Day – an opportunity to recognise fathers and father-figures who have made a positive impact on our lives. I give thanks today for my late Dad, a humble and loving man, who, though of course not perfect, had a sincere faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and sought to live for Him. I hope I can share his encouragement and example with my own child. But not everyone has had a good experience when it comes to their earthly father, which always saddens me. It’s safe to say that Dads have a profound influence on their families, one way or another. God has created and called fathers to be leaders of their households, which can be a blessing when we take that responsibility seriously, when we lead lovingly and well. Yet our human sinfulness means this is not always the case.

Imagine a Dad who never ever made the wrong decision, who always had his family’s best interests at heart, who always got the right mix of gentleness and firmness, and whose wisdom was unfailing.

The wonderful news is that there is such a father. There is someone who is PERFECT in every single way, who will never leave nor forsake you, upon whom you can rely 100%. The one true and living God has revealed Himself as the ultimate Father, who invites us to be His children. How can we really know what He’s like? By trusting in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9b) Through the Scriptures as we consider the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we encounter compassion, grace, self-sacrifice, power. We see someone who never sinned, yet gave up His life to save sinners. We see someone who is victorious over death itself, and who is going to fix this broken world one day.

Please pray for all us Dads, that we may honour the Lord in how we treat our families. And may we give thanks for the ultimate Father, whose love for His children endures forever.