LIVING AS GOD’S CHILDREN
Text: Ephesians 3:14- 17
What do you think of when you think about greeting cards? What companies do you think of that make those greeting cards? There are two companies that come to mind. American Greeting cards and Hallmark are the two companies that are most likely the ones that we think about.
When we think of Hall mark, what is the phrase that we associate with Hallmark? “Hallmark, when you care enough to send the best”. How many of you actually check your cards to see if someone cared enough to send the best?
How many of you are willing to bet that Hallmark created “Father’s Day” as a day to bring in profits for their company? Today we will explore the origin of Father’s Day, our Heavenly Father’s World and what it mean to live as God’s children.
FATHER’S DAY
What is the origin of Father’s Day? An author named Cheri Sicard writes…
1) The celebration of Dad's special day can most likely be credited to Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington State, who first suggested the idea of the holiday in 1909”.
2) Mrs. Dodd's father, civil war veteran William Smart, was widowed when his wife died in childbirth with their sixth child. Despite the obvious hardships, Mr. Smart proceeded to raise the newborn along with his five other children, by himself.
3) It wasn't until Sonora Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. The original date chosen for the holiday was June 5, Mr. Smart's birthday, however the celebration was postponed until June 19, the third Sunday in June, because there was not enough time to prepare.
4) At about the same time in various towns and cities across America other people were beginning to celebrate a Father's Day. Some accounts credit Mrs. Charles Clayton of West Virginia, as the founder of Father's Day, although most histories give credit to Mrs. Dodd.”
Was more than one avenue that helped to found Father’s Day?
1) In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day, but it never became official until 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson signed the presidential proclamation that set aside the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.”
2) The other author complements the history of Father’s Day by giving the details of what happened to Father’s Day following Lyndon B. Johnson’s Presidency. “In 1972, President Nixon made it permanent by signing a congressional resolution which called for the official recognition of Father's Day.” (Raymond McHenry. ed. McHenry’s Quips, Quotes And Other Notes. [quoted from: Brian's Lines, May/June 1994]. Third Printing. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2004, p. 99). Father’s Day obviously is not as old as Mother’s Day. Nevertheless, the role that fathers have in the life of their families is very important. The Bible helps us to understand that earthly fathers should live a life that resembles the traits of our Heavenly Father.
THIS IS OUR FATHER’S WORLD
God made us stewards of this world that He created. Are we doing a good job of taking care of the world that he made?
1) Stewards of God’s creation: We hear a lot about going “Green” these days.
2) Uncertainties : At the same time, we hear about the economy and how uncertain it is. We watch the gas prices; success and failure in the stock market; companies whose futures are in jeopardy; preserving our natural resources; preserving endangered species. We obviously cannot control things beyond our control. At the same time, we are responsible for the things that are in our control.
Jesus calls us to be disciples to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). What does that have to do with stewardship?
1) Workers in God’s Vineyard: We are the modern day workers of the vineyard---the world that God created.
2) Good Samaritans: We have responsibilities to reach out to the lost. We have a responsibility to help those are like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:37). 3) Our brother’s keepers: We are the keepers of our brothers and sisters. We are called to demonstrate God’s love in our actions.
4) Loving God and neighbor: We are called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We are called to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. The ways that we love God is reflect in the ways that we love our neighbors. 5) Known as disciples: Others will know that we are His disciples by the way that we live and love.
LIVING AS GOD’S CHILDREN
Have you ever listened to how we pray the Lord’s prayer? That prayer has so much information in it.
1) God’s name: The Lord’s prayer teaches us that we are to live in such a way that it brings glory to God’s name.
2) Inspiring others: Not only will living as God’s children bring glory to His name but it will also help others---even unbelievers to see God’s work in our lives.
3) Resident aliens: When we live as God’s children, and seek to do His will on earth as it is done in heaven, we make the world a better place because we demonstrate two things. First we demonstrate that God’s kingdom is on earth. Secondly, we demonstrate that we are citizens of His kingdom that is not of this world.
4) Recognizing God as our source: God is our source and He demonstrates that in the way that He takes care of our daily needs---our daily bread. . If we do not recognize God as our source, then we are sure to get off course.
5) Reflect God: As God’s children we are called to imitate God’s character in being forgiving of others even when they do not deserve it.
6) We are called to trust God: We have to remember that God delivers us and protects us like a shepherd protects his sheep. Jesus once looked at a crowd and likened to them to sheep without a shepherd. Lost sheep can feel isolated, vulnerable and scared.
Dr. Tony Evans shares the following story. “A little boy was on a plane one day that was experiencing violent turbulence. The plane was going up and down and all over the place. The lady sitting next to the boy was terrified. She couldn’t understand why the little boy was happily playing and having fun. After a while of observing him, she just couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Little boy please stop it! Stop having so much fun! How can you have so much fun when the plane is going through this?”
The little boy put his hand on the lady’s hand and said, “Lady, my daddy is the pilot.”
When your daddy is the pilot, you can handle the turbulence because you know that he’s got it all under control.” (Tony Evans. Tony Evans’ Book Of Illustrations. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009, pp. 321- 322). Knowing that we have God as our heavenly Father can give us a peace that the world can never equal! Keep that in mind as you hear this next story.
I want to close with a story that my mother sent me in an e-mail.
One morning while waiting to have breakfast, a professor (who was on vacation) noticed a distinguished white-haired visiting with the guests. The professor made the comment to his wife that he hoped that man would not visit their table. Of course, he did visit the professor’s table. Listen to the conversation …
Distinguished white-haired man: 'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.
Prof: ' Oklahoma ,' they answered
Distinguished white-haired man: 'Great to have you here in Tennessee ,' the stranger said... 'What do you do for a living?'
Prof: 'I teach at a seminary,' he replied.Distinguished white-haired man: 'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great.. Just what INeed.... Another preacher story!'
Distinguished white-haired man: The man started, 'See that mountain over there? (Pointing out the restaurant Window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, who's your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, 'Who's your daddy?'
He would hide at recess and lunch time from other students.. He would avoid going in to stores because that question hurt him so bad. 'When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?'
But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd. Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's Your daddy?'
The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy? 'This new preacher, though , sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy.. 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family resemblance now, you are a child of God.'
With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, ' Boy, you've got a great inheritance.. Go and claim it.'
'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them, 'I'm a Child of God..'' The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't that a Great story?'
Prof: The professor responded that it really was a great story! As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!' And he walked away..
The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked her, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left that was sitting at our table? “'The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper. He's governor of Tennessee!’
Someone in your life today needs a reminder that they're one of God's Children!
