Fatherhood
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:16-17
We are certainly at a moment in time where we can look at what fatherlessness has created in society. Young men who don’t grasp what it means to be men. Young women who don’t understand their value. Both have a lack of identity, adoration, and affirmation.
“IT ALL LEADS BACK TO FATHERS!”
I often think back to all of the most impactful moments of my life. I can’t always remember all the details. However, I do know one thing that is consistent through all of them, my father.
If you asked him, he would tell you all the areas he failed. The truth is, he wasn’t perfect, but what father is? Life happens! Careers, ministry, friends, responsibilities, goals, and other things can stand in the way of the things you once prioritized, but over time somehow deprioritized.
“AND YET, GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL”
My father always raised his children with Proverbs 22:6 in mind, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Spiritually he understood what it meant to guide, to lead, to pray, to teach, to affirm, and to identify his children. This often meant the occasional Biblical correction, spare the rod, spoil the child (I recall every single one of those instances lol). We knew who our father was cause he always identified us as his children. We knew there was no mistake that he loved us, he was always willing to show us adoration. He constantly looked for ways to affirm us. I recall him telling me, “You don’t have to be the best at everything, but you do have to give it your best. And if you give it your best, I’ll always be proud.”
What could we do if we learned how to spiritually father this generation? So, what is the message that this fatherless generation needs to hear today? The same message God gave to Jesus in Matthew 3:
YOU BELONG | I LOVE YOU | I’M PROUD OF YOU
As the Pastor of Transformation Church, I feel that God has made it a mission of TC to build a house of Fathers. Spiritual fathers to guide, to lead, to pray, to teach, to affirm, and to identify spiritual children. In an era where true fathers are rare. I pray that God gives us wisdom and knowledge as we aim to instill Identification, Adoration, and Affirmation into the sons and daughters of God.