Don't you love super hero's? Spiderman, Iron Man, Superman? There is something about those dudes that we resonate with? They are brave...though sometimes relunctantly. They are battling for righteousness in the face of evil & corruption. They are at their core somebody we would all like to be. Perhaps that is why, since we were little kids running around with our capes on...we wanted to be just like them! Have you ever noticed a central quality in all our beloved super hero's...they are willing to lay down their life for the sake of those they love...for the betterment of man kind...so that justice can prevail...and so that things can be made right! I want that...don't you? Every year as Father's Day comes & goes, some get sentimental. Some get sad. Some get hopeful. Others hope to avoid the "celebration" entirely. I suppose it has a lot to do with the "father" you had...or the "father" you would like to become. Some had good dads and good memories. Some never knew their dad. Some lost their dad too soon due to death or divorce. Some strive to be just like dad. Others strive to be better than the dad they ended up with. Too many want to be as far from what their dad was...as possible. It is often hard to look to a model of what a "father" should be...especially if you didn't have a good one...or perhaps didn't have one at all. Even if you had a great dad...the reality is...you knew him too well, and you know his flaws as well. So where do we go, if we want to be the dad God desires us to be? Where is the model to follow? Where is the guidebook, the roadmap, the way? Well Jesus models a very interesting truth for us...scripture says that Jesus only spoke what His Father asked Him to speak...that Jesus only did as the Father asked Him to. I think it would be safe to say that if Jesus were that dependent & trusting of His Heavenly Father...then perhaps we should be too! In a complicated world, where values & family structures are changing constantly...it is good to know that our Heavenly Father is trust worthy...is a Way we can trust...and loves us and our families more than we do. That's a good thing! A great thing!
In Ephesians chapter 5, scripture gives us some great family instructions and wisdom. But I often think we miss the most important part. Most people get hung up on the "wives respect your husband" stuff...or the "children obey your parents" part. But the key, the foundation to it all rests on good ol' dad...yes you husband, father & dad. This portion of scripture reminds us that a man is to love his wife (his family also) as Jesus loves the church (His followers). It speaks of this love of Jesus being willing to lay down His very life for those He loves. It speaks of Jesus presenting His bride (His church, His followers) before God without blemish...without spot or wrinkle. Jesus righteousness allows His bride to be spotless and without blame before God. Wow, what a concept! What a truth! It is not that the "church" of Jesus followers got their act together and shaped up that removed their own "spots & wrinkles"...it's what Jesus did on their behalf! That is grace...amazing grace! So what does that mean to us guys as we lead our families, our wives, our kids...it means "if" we are to love as Jesus did...then it is not about my wife or kids getting their own act together. But it is about me loving them & serving them...for in me doing that with God's help... "their spots & wrinkles" are removed. It's not based in "their" performance...it has a whole lot more to do with me. It's rooted in us guys, being Jesus like in serving them...laying it all down for them...and listening to our Heavenly Father, speaking as He asks us to, and acting as He directs! That is a challenge...one that drives us toward our Heavenly Father to guide us, show us & shape us...for our wife & our kids sake! Ultimately for the Kingdom of God's sake...and may it begin with you & me...as we become the super hero's God has designed us to be! It may seem impossible at times...but that's what super hero's do...the impossible!
be God's-
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
