Behold what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.1 Jn. 3:1-3 NIV
Dear heavenly Father, on this Father’s Day, it’s a great joy to affirm that you are the Father we’ve always longed for and needed. The best earthly fathers offer a great taste of what it means to be your beloved children, but they can never be to us what you are. Our hearts overflow with thanksgiving, as we cry with joy today, “Abba, Father!”
Thank you for adopting us through the finished work of Jesus, and for robing us in Jesus’ righteousness and forgiving ALL our sins. Thank you for freeing us from our slavery to sin and our orphan-like ways, and for giving us the Spirit of Sonship, a secure place in your family, and an inheritance that can never spoil or fade.
Thank you for being the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. Thank you for promising to complete the work you began in us, and for always disciplining us in love—never shaming, chiding, or withdrawing from us.
And Father, thank you for grace to forgive our earthly fathers who didn’t love us as you intended—including those who broke our trust and hearts. Continue to heal us, Lord, help us to love them, and free us to parent to your glory.
Lastly, Father, we thank you for the spiritual dads you’ve given us—the gospel-fathers who help us discover more and more of the multi-dimensional love of Christ. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ merciful and mighty name.
