Like Our Father: A 5-Day Study by Christina FoxSample

Day 3:

We all have different experiences with our earthly fathers. Some had kind, attentive, and loving fathers. Others had fathers who were emotionally distant— who were too busy or distracted to spend time with them. Still others have only painful memories of a father who was always angry and cruel. Then there are those who might not have known their father at all.

Whatever our experiences, we can’t help but bring them with us into our relationship with our heavenly Father. These experiences can shape our expectations of our heavenly Father. They can impact the degree to which we trust and depend upon Him. That why it’s important that we take the time to understand just who our heavenly Father is. We need to understand His character. We need to know what sets Him apart from our earthly fathers.

The Bible tells us all that we need to know about God. It teaches us about His character and His ways. One thing we learn about our Father in heaven is that while our earthly fathers did what they knew best, given their fallen and imperfect nature, our heavenly Father always does what is good, right, and true. That’s because He is perfect. He is wholly good. He can’t do anything that is not good. This means He always provides us what is good. He always responds to us out of His goodness. He ensures that all that happens to us is for our good. And because our Father is good, we can trust Him.

The Bible also tells us that our Father is love. This means that love is such an integral part of His character that all He does is out of His perfect and holy love. Unlike fallen humanity, God’s love is not conditional. It is not dependent on anything we have done or will do. It is not fickle; He won’t love us one day and then remove His love the next. His love is not about taking, but about giving. It’s a sacrificial love, one proven in the gift of His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Further, His love will never fail. We are safe and secure in His love forever.

Our Father in heaven is everything that our earthly fathers could not be. In fact, whenever we are uncertain what a good father looks like, we can look to the relationship between God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ—the ultimate Father-Son relationship.

For those whose own fathers cast a dark shadow on fatherhood, let the rays of truth shine down on your heart. Take time to read and study what it means that God is your Father. Meditate on His great and perfect love for you in Christ. Consider the great lengths He went to in adopting you as His own. Dwell on the fact that He cherishes you.

Questions to Consider:

1. In what ways is God different from our earthly fathers?
2. List some specific ways you’ve seen the goodness of God.
3. What does it mean to you that God loves you with a perfect love?