Weekly Devotional - Gloria Miller
Father’s Day
Devotional
‘Father’s Day’ is a secular holiday created by humans. God did not ordain or command the modern-day celebration. However, the Bible teaches us to honor our father and mother, so we celebrate ‘Father’s Day’ to honor and recognize the essential contributions fathers, grandfathers, and father figures make to their families and to society. Salutations were given to fathers at the sound of Pastor Aaron’s voice, and a moment of silence was extended to remember the fathers who are no longer with us. An invitation was given to the men in the congregation to join and support the already established initiative, ‘No Longer Fatherless.’ Pastor Aaron indicated that there are boys who need a father figure or positive male role model in their lives. Men were encouraged to get involved and become a stand-in for boys, helping them become men of God.
Pastor Aaron asked the question, “What is the best example of fathers that we have in the Bible?” There was silence, and Pastor Aaron answered, “Crickets!” Ha! Ha! Slight chuckling could be heard. He went on to say that with all the fathers we have heard of or read about in the Bible, there were some ‘glaring moments’ in their lives that give us pause. In the Bible, there are men of God who seem to have troubling moments. He mentioned several of these men, starting with Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his own son; Zechariah, who was visited by the Angel Gabriel and told that his wife Elizabeth would have a son named John who would prepare the people for the Messiah, but who questioned the angel’s word and was made speechless until the child was born; Jesse, who overlooked his younger son David, who was destined for greatness; and Job, an excessively overprotective father whose love could not fully protect his children from tragedy. The need for positive role models is essential.
Pastor Aaron encouraged the men again to consider being a positive role model for boys who need mentoring — a father figure or a role model to guide them into becoming godly men. He went on to say, “The Bible seems to present the idea that people’s relationship with their fathers may be complicated. In fact, that may be part of the reason God reveals Himself, most of all, as ‘Father.’ It’s as though God understood that what we need most in our world is a father.” Pastor Aaron noted that there are many great fathers sitting in the church today, and many great fathers in this world. We live in a world where good fathers are lacking in many cases — but not the fathers sitting here today. Disclaimer: “That may not be you at all, so just sit back and criticize my message.” Chuckles were heard. Ha! Ha!
Pastor Aaron went on to say, “I want us to think biblically about everything, so let’s see what the Bible has to say.” The first thing he clarified was the distinction in Bible study between prescriptive and descriptive passages. People read the Bible and assume that everything in it must be good or God-supported. They read these stories of men of God who had troubling moments in their lives — moments that make us scratch our heads, moments that make us ask, “God, you really support this?” The reality is, probably not; God probably doesn’t support it. Just because the Bible records something doesn’t mean it’s telling you to be like that. This is the difference between prescriptive and descriptive: prescriptive passages are those times when the Bible explicitly says, ‘you should do this; you should not do that.’ But there are many instances in the Bible where it is simply describing what happened — it isn’t telling you that you should or shouldn’t be like that.
There are several unbiblical examples of fatherhood found in Scripture.
Unbiblical Example #1: Absent Fathers
Some fathers are absent because they choose to be, or because they refuse to get involved. Others have had to be absent due to the demands of work or schedule, and some have unfortunately been made absent through death. Let’s take a moment to remember those positive fathers we have lost.
Fact: every human being has had a mother and a father. When one of those is absent, either by choice or not, we will seek to replace them, whether we know it or not, because we need parents. If we didn’t have them, we fill that void with our friends and our lovers — and this is how gangs are born. There begins a desperate search for mentorship.
Example of an absent father: King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (sweet muffins! Crowd chuckles. Ha! Ha!), yet we read of only one son and two daughters. This son seems to have had no respect for his father at all — he had some ‘daddy issues.’ After King Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam asked for advice on how he should now lead the people. Refer to 1 Kings 12:6–11 (NIV): “Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. ‘How would you advise me to answer these people?’ They replied, ‘If today you will be a servant to these people and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.’” But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and instead consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He rejected the advice of his father’s elders and had no respect for them — perhaps because his father had been too busy to spend time teaching him. He took the advice of the gang he was associated with instead, never having learned the wisdom of his own father. Solomon himself did not seem to practice the wisdom God had given him.
If you have had a father who was too busy for you, hear me: God the Father is not like that! Refer to John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Refer also to Revelation 3:20 (NIV), “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” God the Father wants to be united with you. He wants to spend time with you — He literally wants to share a meal with you. He wants to teach you the wisdom He taught Solomon, the wisdom Solomon didn’t seem to practice.
Some advice: if you have had an absent father, don’t overcompensate. Jesus also had an absent father — Joseph most likely died when Jesus was in His teens. So Jesus spent much of His life filling that void of an earthly father with His Heavenly Father instead. If this relates to you, understand that you are not alone. The Son of God relates to you.
Unbiblical Example #2: The Passive Fathers
These fathers are present and around but unconcerned. Three examples: Eli the High Priest, Samuel a major prophet, and David the King. They seem to have been present, yet what we see in them is a refusal to really get involved.
For Eli, refer to 1 Samuel 2:12, 22–25 (NIV) and 1 Samuel 3:11–13 (NIV). His sons did not listen to him, so it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. These passages tell of the disobedient exploits of Eli’s sons — Eli warned them, but he himself didn’t do anything about it. He spoke but failed to act.
For Samuel, refer to 1 Samuel 8:4–5 (NIV). The people declared that his sons were not following his ways, so they asked Samuel to appoint a king instead. Samuel traveled a great deal all over Israel, and Pastor Aaron noted that, like Samuel, “as ministry leaders, our kids tend to believe that we care more about the flock than our own families.” Samuel’s children had no respect for their father.
Then there is David, whose family life was like a soap opera. He shed tears over his sons’ actions, but always too little, too late. One of his sons raped his own sister, and David did nothing about it. His other son, Absalom, took revenge on his brother because David hadn’t acted — again, too little, too late. Refer also to another son of David, Adonijah, whom David never rebuked, in 1 Kings 1:5–6 (NIV).
Lesson for fathers: when we refuse to be the bad guy in our sons’ lives, we produce bad guys. Passive fathers want to be their kids’ friends rather than their father, and end up becoming neither. Refer to Hebrews 12:4–11, which speaks of disciplining our earthly sons as God disciplines us. God disciplines us for our good: “It is painful, but later it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” God disciplines us because He loves us and because He is a good, good Father.
Advice for passive fathers: have hard conversations, and lead through your discipline.
Unbiblical Example #3: Reputation, or “Don’t Embarrass Me” Fathers
These fathers have children to add to their trophy case — you exist to pad their stats and support what they want to do through you. This type of relationship can become dark and damaging if you don’t live up to their expectations. Example: Saul and his relationship with Jonathan. Saul made two attempts on his son’s life when Jonathan didn’t get in line with what he wanted (refer to 1 Samuel 20 NIV, in its entirety). Saul wanted his son to pad his stats and make his name great. This is not what God the Father does for us.
Refer to the story of David in 2 Samuel 7:5–16 and 1 Chronicles 17:1–15. David wanted to do a great thing for God — he wanted to make God’s name great — but God said, in effect, “That’s great, David, but let’s you and I build this relationship instead,” and God told David what He would do for him. This is what God wants to do for us: He wants to form a relationship with us and redeem our story. God’s name will be exalted in all the nations. God’s name is exalted most when He takes someone who thinks they are unseen, unknown, or unloved, and believes they don’t have a father — and He pays attention to that person. He loves to take that individual who feels they don’t have a father, mold them, and become a father to them. He loves to redeem their story. He is repairing the brokenness across our world. Why? Because He is a good, good Father.
An invitation was given to all to accept the invitation extended by God the Father. God the Father is inviting us to be His child. Allow the Father to build your house. Allow Him to lead and guide you. Accept God’s invitation to have a relationship with Him.
— Notes by Elder Gloria Miller
Devotional
‘Father’s Day’ is a secular holiday created by humans. God did not ordain or command the modern-day celebration. However, the Bible teaches us to honor our father and mother, so we celebrate ‘Father’s Day’ to honor and recognize the essential contributions fathers, grandfathers, and father figures make to their families and to society. Salutations were given to fathers at the sound of Pastor Aaron’s voice, and a moment of silence was extended to remember the fathers who are no longer with us. An invitation was given to the men in the congregation to join and support the already established initiative, ‘No Longer Fatherless.’ Pastor Aaron indicated that there are boys who need a father figure or positive male role model in their lives. Men were encouraged to get involved and become a stand-in for boys, helping them become men of God.
Pastor Aaron asked the question, “What is the best example of fathers that we have in the Bible?” There was silence, and Pastor Aaron answered, “Crickets!” Ha! Ha! Slight chuckling could be heard. He went on to say that with all the fathers we have heard of or read about in the Bible, there were some ‘glaring moments’ in their lives that give us pause. In the Bible, there are men of God who seem to have troubling moments. He mentioned several of these men, starting with Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his own son; Zechariah, who was visited by the Angel Gabriel and told that his wife Elizabeth would have a son named John who would prepare the people for the Messiah, but who questioned the angel’s word and was made speechless until the child was born; Jesse, who overlooked his younger son David, who was destined for greatness; and Job, an excessively overprotective father whose love could not fully protect his children from tragedy. The need for positive role models is essential.
Pastor Aaron encouraged the men again to consider being a positive role model for boys who need mentoring — a father figure or a role model to guide them into becoming godly men. He went on to say, “The Bible seems to present the idea that people’s relationship with their fathers may be complicated. In fact, that may be part of the reason God reveals Himself, most of all, as ‘Father.’ It’s as though God understood that what we need most in our world is a father.” Pastor Aaron noted that there are many great fathers sitting in the church today, and many great fathers in this world. We live in a world where good fathers are lacking in many cases — but not the fathers sitting here today. Disclaimer: “That may not be you at all, so just sit back and criticize my message.” Chuckles were heard. Ha! Ha!
Pastor Aaron went on to say, “I want us to think biblically about everything, so let’s see what the Bible has to say.” The first thing he clarified was the distinction in Bible study between prescriptive and descriptive passages. People read the Bible and assume that everything in it must be good or God-supported. They read these stories of men of God who had troubling moments in their lives — moments that make us scratch our heads, moments that make us ask, “God, you really support this?” The reality is, probably not; God probably doesn’t support it. Just because the Bible records something doesn’t mean it’s telling you to be like that. This is the difference between prescriptive and descriptive: prescriptive passages are those times when the Bible explicitly says, ‘you should do this; you should not do that.’ But there are many instances in the Bible where it is simply describing what happened — it isn’t telling you that you should or shouldn’t be like that.
There are several unbiblical examples of fatherhood found in Scripture.
Unbiblical Example #1: Absent Fathers
Some fathers are absent because they choose to be, or because they refuse to get involved. Others have had to be absent due to the demands of work or schedule, and some have unfortunately been made absent through death. Let’s take a moment to remember those positive fathers we have lost.
Fact: every human being has had a mother and a father. When one of those is absent, either by choice or not, we will seek to replace them, whether we know it or not, because we need parents. If we didn’t have them, we fill that void with our friends and our lovers — and this is how gangs are born. There begins a desperate search for mentorship.
Example of an absent father: King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (sweet muffins! Crowd chuckles. Ha! Ha!), yet we read of only one son and two daughters. This son seems to have had no respect for his father at all — he had some ‘daddy issues.’ After King Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam asked for advice on how he should now lead the people. Refer to 1 Kings 12:6–11 (NIV): “Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. ‘How would you advise me to answer these people?’ They replied, ‘If today you will be a servant to these people and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.’” But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and instead consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He rejected the advice of his father’s elders and had no respect for them — perhaps because his father had been too busy to spend time teaching him. He took the advice of the gang he was associated with instead, never having learned the wisdom of his own father. Solomon himself did not seem to practice the wisdom God had given him.
If you have had a father who was too busy for you, hear me: God the Father is not like that! Refer to John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Refer also to Revelation 3:20 (NIV), “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” God the Father wants to be united with you. He wants to spend time with you — He literally wants to share a meal with you. He wants to teach you the wisdom He taught Solomon, the wisdom Solomon didn’t seem to practice.
Some advice: if you have had an absent father, don’t overcompensate. Jesus also had an absent father — Joseph most likely died when Jesus was in His teens. So Jesus spent much of His life filling that void of an earthly father with His Heavenly Father instead. If this relates to you, understand that you are not alone. The Son of God relates to you.
Unbiblical Example #2: The Passive Fathers
These fathers are present and around but unconcerned. Three examples: Eli the High Priest, Samuel a major prophet, and David the King. They seem to have been present, yet what we see in them is a refusal to really get involved.
For Eli, refer to 1 Samuel 2:12, 22–25 (NIV) and 1 Samuel 3:11–13 (NIV). His sons did not listen to him, so it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. These passages tell of the disobedient exploits of Eli’s sons — Eli warned them, but he himself didn’t do anything about it. He spoke but failed to act.
For Samuel, refer to 1 Samuel 8:4–5 (NIV). The people declared that his sons were not following his ways, so they asked Samuel to appoint a king instead. Samuel traveled a great deal all over Israel, and Pastor Aaron noted that, like Samuel, “as ministry leaders, our kids tend to believe that we care more about the flock than our own families.” Samuel’s children had no respect for their father.
Then there is David, whose family life was like a soap opera. He shed tears over his sons’ actions, but always too little, too late. One of his sons raped his own sister, and David did nothing about it. His other son, Absalom, took revenge on his brother because David hadn’t acted — again, too little, too late. Refer also to another son of David, Adonijah, whom David never rebuked, in 1 Kings 1:5–6 (NIV).
Lesson for fathers: when we refuse to be the bad guy in our sons’ lives, we produce bad guys. Passive fathers want to be their kids’ friends rather than their father, and end up becoming neither. Refer to Hebrews 12:4–11, which speaks of disciplining our earthly sons as God disciplines us. God disciplines us for our good: “It is painful, but later it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” God disciplines us because He loves us and because He is a good, good Father.
Advice for passive fathers: have hard conversations, and lead through your discipline.
Unbiblical Example #3: Reputation, or “Don’t Embarrass Me” Fathers
These fathers have children to add to their trophy case — you exist to pad their stats and support what they want to do through you. This type of relationship can become dark and damaging if you don’t live up to their expectations. Example: Saul and his relationship with Jonathan. Saul made two attempts on his son’s life when Jonathan didn’t get in line with what he wanted (refer to 1 Samuel 20 NIV, in its entirety). Saul wanted his son to pad his stats and make his name great. This is not what God the Father does for us.
Refer to the story of David in 2 Samuel 7:5–16 and 1 Chronicles 17:1–15. David wanted to do a great thing for God — he wanted to make God’s name great — but God said, in effect, “That’s great, David, but let’s you and I build this relationship instead,” and God told David what He would do for him. This is what God wants to do for us: He wants to form a relationship with us and redeem our story. God’s name will be exalted in all the nations. God’s name is exalted most when He takes someone who thinks they are unseen, unknown, or unloved, and believes they don’t have a father — and He pays attention to that person. He loves to take that individual who feels they don’t have a father, mold them, and become a father to them. He loves to redeem their story. He is repairing the brokenness across our world. Why? Because He is a good, good Father.
An invitation was given to all to accept the invitation extended by God the Father. God the Father is inviting us to be His child. Allow the Father to build your house. Allow Him to lead and guide you. Accept God’s invitation to have a relationship with Him.
— Notes by Elder Gloria Miller
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