Last Sunday was my first “Father’s Day.” I use the quotes because my baby girl, Felicity, is still doing her thing inside my 30-week pregnant wife (everyone pause to pray for her… and me). My wife bought me some of the best small gifts she has ever bought me and even a little onesie for our daughter that said “I love that you are my dad.” Over the last few months, the reality that I’m about to be a dad has really begun to sink in and continues to further scare me to death more every day. I don’t just want to be a good father, but the best dad.
We had chosen to sing “Good Good Father” for Father’s day (probably like a million other churches), but for some reason it felt different this time. I have only seen ultrasounds of my baby girl, but I already love her intensely. As we read each week how she is developing, I am amazed at the miracle and astonished to believe that someone could not believe that there is a Divine Creator. That brings me to what I said Sunday before we played the last song. “I cannot believe God would give his ONLY Son to die for us.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. – John 3:16-17 (NIV)
How could God love us this much? All the hate towards him and fellow men, all the jealousy causing us to steal and destroy, all the wars taking millions of innocent lives, all the murder, shootings, vulgar words, lying, drunkenness, insert my sins, insert your sins…. How could he overlook all that and pay for it with his Son? The truth of it is, I don’t understand. I’m not perfect. It would take more than I could fathom for me to give up my daughter for any one that reads this article. I say I love my church family, but you are out of luck if you want me to sacrifice Felicity.
The more important truth of it all is HE DID! Our relationship was broken with our Creator, but his sacrifice made it possible for generations until the end of time to be reconciled to God. God doesn’t see our brokenness, our imperfections, our hate. For those that follow Jesus, He just sees the blood that was shed for us. Christ followers are new creations. Walk in that newness.
I’m going to leave you with this. This was an encouraging message that I saw on one of my friend’s Instagram feed:
“I know it may seem cliché, or silly, or like I’m the awkward Jesus friend, but when you’ve experienced the love of Jesus, you want to spend time with him. You want to curl up with your coffee & his word on your couch like you would with your best friend. Because it is that important and meaningful. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” – 1Corinthians 1:18″
Richard Jacobs
Worship Pastor