By Chris Martin
Matthew 6:9:“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
For surely, we will ultimately find that we all have One Father, to whom even Jesus prays and three times calls Him “Abba,” a closer relation, as in “Daddy,” in the New Testament, as the singular Son of God.
John 3:16:“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Of all of the fathers in our Holy Bible. I am taken with the one who was actually an adoptive father to our beloved Christ, Joseph. Accompanying this article is a pictures I took of a stunning bronze sculpture of him, Joseph, in Nazareth, directly outside his humble church there, St. Joseph’s Church. Another picture, taken inside the church, shows Joseph with the young Jesus.
Literally, right next door is the overwhelming and opulent Church of the Annunciation, dedicated solely to the Virgin Mary.
The juxtaposition of the two, side by side, speaks to you, if you are quiet and allow it.
Like many great fathers, even with us right now, he was not especially celebrated, and his work was humble.
I remember our recently passed national treasure, and also real-life foster father, who had a prime-time national TV show, Bernie Mac. He might have summed it up best. “All I really ever expect is the big piece of chicken at dinner.”
Today’s message is, you don’t have to sire a flock, or even one child, to be a father that makes a difference beyond your imagining.
What do YOU think? Sound off on fathers in today’s WND poll.
Joseph was a carpenter, and I imagine today he might drive a beat up F-150 pickup truck and probably wear humble attire and be entirely sweat-soaked by day’s end.
Joseph had some overwhelming decisions to make and did so without the measure of popularity, trends of the day, peer pressure or self glorification the modern age seems to require. He just did.
He wasn’t even a Bible “hero,” per se. I can’t help but think there’s a message here. Matthew 13:55 – “Is not this the carpenter’s son?”
In order to be a good father to anyone, it seems one must first be a good man. Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Abraham shows us that he did exactly that in Genesis 22 and thus became the father of many nations and all the faithful. His priorities surely pleased the Lord Almighty, he was blessed beyond measure and that chapter even foretold the Passion of Christ, clearly as the Lord intended.
As we celebrate Father’s Day, let us likewise prioritize our love. Cherish the humble. Celebrate the quiet. Take great joy in the steady hand that provides.
None of our earthly fathers are perfect, but our collective Father surely is. Hallowed be thy name.
Pour out your love accordingly.
Chris Martin is WND’s advertising sales manager.
