Father's Day 2004

You need to thank God today if you had a father who loved you enough to take the time to discipline you.

III. A FATHER’S LOVE

Prov. 3:1-3 "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you...." These words sound like a father talking to his son, but in reality, it’s the wisdom of God speaking. Let love never leave you.

ILL.- A Father’s Love

We hear about a mother’s love

In story and in song,

How staunch it is through trial and storm,

How tender and strong,

How sweet and pure and beautiful;

And every word is true.

But what about a father’s love?

That claims some notice, too.

A father delves the darksome mine

And climbs the girders high

And swings upon the scaffolding

Between the earth and sky.

It’s father who bends his aching back

And bows his graying head

To bear the burdens of the day

And earn the children’s bread.

For both must work and both must plant

And do an equal share

To rear the little ones the Lord

Has trusted to their care.

All honor to the mother’s love;

The universe it fills.

But when you praise it, don’t forget

That father pays the bills.

How do fathers demonstrate their love? One way is by going to work! By providing for their family.

I Tim. 5:8 "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

Anyway you look at it, a father should provide for his family as best he can. That’s a part of loving them. But there is more to loving our children than just providing for them.

ILL.- In the Diary of Brooks Adams is a note about a special day when he was eight-years-old. He wrote, "went fishing with my father; the most glorious day of my life," and through the next forty years there were constant references to that day and the influence it had on his life.

His dad took him fishing. His dad spent time with him. I think that is called an act of love. The action of love. WHAT DID YOUR FATHER DO WITH YOU OR FOR YOU?

ILL.- In the summer of 1957 my parents took the three of us Shepherd kids to Anaheim, CA, to visit Disneyland. Disneyland had only opened two years before in 1955. I was not yet 13 years old at the time. I’m sure it was great, but I don’t remember a thing about it! I know that sounds terrible, but as I look back I now realize what a great sacrifice of time and money that was to drive all the way out there. It had to be a tremendous act of love! And it wouldn’t have happened had it not been for my dad earning the money, taking the time off from work, and driving all that distance from Joplin, MO.

There are many ways that fathers show love to their children and for their children.

ILL.- Michael W. Smith is a very popular contemporary Christian soloist. Here is what he said about his father. "WHEN MY DAD COMES UP missing at a dinner party, I always know where to find him: in the kitchen. He’ll be in there, apron around his waist, washing dishes. That’s just one example of his servant’s heart. Serving seems to come naturally and effortlessly for my father. I remember one time he was working in the garage and he saw an elderly lady carrying a bag of groceries by our house. He immediately went out to help her. Time and again, I’ve watched him drop whatever he was doing to help someone carry a bag of groceries, fix a car or repair a broken appliance. I hope someday I’ll be as good at serving others as he is. If that happens, I’ll have to say, ‘I learned it from my dad.’"