Lesson Three • Everlasting Father
Devotion 5: Letters to My Little Ones
Pastor Ryan Story
A letter to my children:
I cannot be there for you every step of the way. I wish I could be there to watch every moment of your life, but I might have to miss a few important events in your life. I may have to walk out of the room, and you will fall off of something. I may not be around when your siblings gang up on you and hurt you. It is humbling to know that I cannot be the type of father that can be everywhere at once. My extent as a father has limits. As much as I would love to be Superman, I know my shortcomings. I will never stop trying to live up to the Superman legacy, but I want you to always count on one person more than me, and no it is not your mother.
I want to be there for you no matter what. There is never anything you can do that would make me not love you. I am a wreck of a person; I will at times fail you. God, however, will never fail you. He always has to be perfect. As much as I will attempt to be there for you in your life, He will be there more. David writes in Psalm 103:13, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him.” In my life, I pray to show you compassion for others. I know I am falling far short of this. My emotional responses to compassion seemed to have malfunctioned years ago. I promise I will get better. I do not want you to grow up thinking God is cold like your father. I want you to grow up to know God as compassionate, loving, kind, and caring. Children must look to their fathers to show them compassion.
Now I am going to have to address a tough theological issue with you, my children. If I can teach you anything, it will be “know your Trinity.” It is weird to read about the fore coming of the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus, and hear that His name is described as “Everlasting Father.” Breaking your brain over the ins and outs of doctrine, know that because of Jesus, God’s fatherly character to us is revealed. If there is ever a moment you want to know what God is like as a father, look to the perfect image of God, Jesus. I pray I can emulate this to the point people see your Everlasting Father in your actions because you see His actions in your earthly father.