“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort!” (2Cor.3:1)
Heavenly Father, thank you for being the Father we long for, always wanted, and desperately need. In our culture today is Father’s Day, but in the Gospel, every day is Father’s Day. Here are seven of multiple reasons we’re grateful this is true. If I could do back-flips, I’d do 7—one for each of these.
1. Thank you for adopting us—not metaphorically, but for real and forever. We are your beloved children, Jesus is our perfect righteousness, and your sovereignty is our peace-fueling sanity. Hallelujah!
2. Thank you for giving us the “Spirit of sonship” (Rom.8:15-16)—for making the Holy Spirit our permanent heart-guest. He is constantly exalting Jesus and telling us how much you love us 24/7.
3. Thank you for being “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor.1:3). There’s not an ounce of contempt in you towards us, and you are never ashamed of us or too busy for us.
4. Thank you for promising to finish the work you began in us, Abba (Phil.1:6). Our relationship with you is all by grace and all for your glory. On that soon coming glorious Day, we will be totally like Jesus. Hallelujah!
5. Thank you for promising we will never experience separation or diminishing of your love. It’s stunning, counterintuitive, and true: You love us just as much as you love Jesus.
6. Thank you for grace to forgive and celebrate our earthly fathers. There are reasons for both, but no dad could ever “parent us” the way only you can, Abba.
7. Thank you for the spiritual fathers you have given us—our Gospel-Dads and Grace-Papa’s. They are your heart and hand to us, and bring us joy, wisdom, and healing. So Very Amen.
