…instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of
the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 NIV)
To start with, what is exasperate? From
Dictionary.com, exasperate means “to irritate
or provoke to a
high degree; annoy extremely.”
What is Paul trying to say? And why is
it addressed to fathers only, and not parents in general?
Maybe part of the answer lies in the story of the prodigal
son (Luke 15:11-24); not in what the father said, but in what the father didn’t say.
When the younger son asked for his share of the estate, his
father didn’t say:
“What are you going to do with it?”
“Why can’t you be like your
older brother?”
“It’s a lot of money, don’t
blow it!”
When the son came home, his father didn’t say:
“Where is all the money?”
“Your brother never would have
done this!”
“Do you know how worried I’ve
been? How could you do this to me!”
When the son said he was not worthy, his father didn’t say:
“So what have you learned from your
experience?”
“Are you sure you’re really sorry?”
“It will take a long time for me to
trust you again!”
God, our heavenly father, loves us perfectly and completely.
He created each one of us for a purpose; we are needed and wanted by Him. We
have value beyond measure in His eyes. The grace shown by the father to his
wayward son surely left no doubt about how much his father loved him!
Maybe that’s why our earthly father was given this command:
he shapes our perception of the word “father” right from the start.
The more secure we are in our
earthly father’s love for us because he tells us about the Lord and
demonstrates Godly love, including what we learn by the way he disciplines us, the
more we can know and understand God’s great love for us.
The more we feel we need to “measure
up” to our earthly father’s standards because we are corrected too much or for
the wrong things, the more we’ll feel like a failure in God’s eyes.
The more our fathers exasperate us
instead of affirming us with their words and actions, the more we’ll search for
our value from other sources – drugs, relationships, work, performance.
As we grow up, we are told about our Father God and how much
He loves us. Our ability to believe that truth is conditioned by how we
perceive ourselves in the eyes of our earthly father. The more we feel valued
and loved by our earthly father, the easier it is for us to believe in and receive
God’s perfect love.
The truth is, we are all needed, wanted, and valued by a perfect
Heavenly Father that will never leave us or forsake us.
No matter how your
earthly father treated you, your Heavenly Father is waiting with open arms to
give you the love we all need so desperately. He loves you so much that He sent
His only begotten son, Jesus, to die for you. Reach up for His love, He’s
waiting.
And fathers who have
exasperated their children, this love is waiting for you too.
It’s never too late.
TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Pray this prayer with me: Father
God, it’s hard for me to believe you really love me. I have done so many
horrible things, I feel so ashamed. Sometimes I don’t even know who I am! If you’re
there, please help me. I want to believe, but I don’t know how – I’m so broken.
Please show me the way.”
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ReplyDelete"Hi there! This article couldn't be written much better!
Reading through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
He continually kept talking about this. I most certainly will send this article
to him. Pretty sure he's going to have a great read.
Many thanks for sharing! "