Be Wise for Your Father

It is so easy to say, “be wise”. But what is wisdom?

Wisdom: a: ability to discern inner qualities and relationships: INSIGHT, b: good sense: JUDGMENT – Merriam-Webster Online

It is one then to have knowledge of a topic or subject or instance. It is quite another to know what to do or how to use that knowledge in application. I know that there are a lot of things that I have stored up over my years that really do not have much application in the world on a day to day basis. I like to call all of that useless knowledge.

Now where useless knowledge is just that, useless, most of the time, there are times when it becomes invaluable when applied in the right circumstance. As an example, spouting off the atomic weight of iron, 55.845 u, at a dinner party is of little value. But that same bit of information in an interview for the job of a scientist is invaluable. That is the knowledge of the subject or “INSIGHT” as opposed to just having the information.

“¹The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.”

— Proverbs 10:1 (ESV)

I am a father to two sons and both of them are very intelligent. They have demonstrated their knowledge in their schoolwork as well as in the world with what they have accomplished, and I am very proud of them. But, I will say, there are times that they do not really use their intelligence and it is a bit perplexing. When they are demonstrating that knowledge and wisdom in their choices to apply that knowledge I am just beaming. Yet, when they seem to have left their brain at the house when they left I can but shake my head in wonder.

All of this applies to our relationship with God, our heavenly Father as well. It is up to me to do the work and demonstrate my knowledge through application and bring my brain with me everywhere I go. I am here to please only one, and that is God. I do so as noted in the above verse by being wise. And Just what is wisdom but “INSIGHT” and “JUDGMENT”. It is my job to be conscious of my work to ensure that I am demonstrating wisdom throughout.

Of course, there will always be those times where I will not be the most wise. I will make mistakes as will we all. There will be time where I am caught up on the moment and God, as well as others will simply shake their head. But, those should be the exception to the norm and rule. I am to be focused on doing the work of Christ and when I am, I will be able to work to the application of knowledge and avoid the foolishness.

What is your approach to using that which you know? Are you out there using it foolishly? What if you were to be out there using it to demonstrate your “INSIGHT” and “JUDGMENT” and WISDOM?

Lean on the Father, He Loves You

When we are small, we learn from others and who better than our fathers. Jesus learned carpentry from His earthly Father and to be the example of God from His heavenly Father. The reason we learn from them is that we trust them to teach us that which we need to know. We have the relationship with them and they with us.

As we grow and take on more and more information we begin to take on that we may know more than those who we have learned from in the past. We begin to move faster through things and as such, less and less will seek the council of those we did before. And, we may even begin to look on those others as holding us back. My son recently called me to discuss something. In the conversation, he was looking at information on the internet and was pushing back with me on the validity of what I was saying as to what he was seeing on the internet. It was not until he made a phone call to “check” on what he was reading that he found that I was correct in my assertion.

“¹¹My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline

or be weary of his reproof,

¹²for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,

as a father the son in whom he delights.”

— Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV)

It is easy for me to lean on myself for what I need. I have the mental capacity and the physical ability to do those things and make it on my own. But, the thing I lack is the experience or knowledge of what comes next. This is where others have the advantage and why we should lean on them. Our earthly father loves us and wants us to have the best knowledge based not on today, but on what is to come as a result of our actions. The heavenly Father loves us and wants us to take the right actions as He already KNOWS the results.

Back to my son. Shortly after the realization of my knowledge, he came to me with another request and since he knew that I had recently done the exact thing, he was seeking my help to resolve the item. He and I worked together to resolve and where I did not remember all of what was needed, he trusted that I could get it resolved based on my experience.

It is up to us to lean on those who know. As we grow older, those in our physical lives may not be there to direct us any longer. We will however always have our heavenly Father to lean on. He loves us more than we deserve and only wants what is best for us. We have to remember that He already KNOWS the end result and certainly wants us to get there.

Who are you leaning on? Are you looking to yourself to find the information to get you to the end? What if you leaned on the one who loves you and KNOWS the end already, the Father?

Heavenly Father, Example to Me

“¹³As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”

— Psalm 103:13 (ESV)

I have to remember that it is from God that I draw my example from. Yes, I have my earthly father as noted above who shows compassion to his children and I should draw from there. But, as we look further back, I have to know that the compassion of the father came from the Father.

I recently wrote that we are to leave our father and that we only have our earthly father for a short while in this world. Remembering that and understanding it, I have to draw on my heavenly Father for the example of what right looks like.

I have mentioned before of my mission and values. One of, actually my first value, is it “Be the Example”. And the description of that value is to “Demonstrate what right looks like in any and all situations. Following the example provided by Christ Jesus.” This speaks volumes to me as I read this morning of the example that the LORD provides for us as our heavenly Father. He is our example and whatever we learn from others should be held to the example of Christ.

Where do you look for your example? Are you seeking guidance solely from those around you in this world? What if you were to seek to follow the example of our heavenly Father as His is the one copied by those before us and, He never leaves us?

Our Father, Father to the Fatherless

All of us in this world have an earthly father. Whether that father is still with us or not is the only question. Some of us still can enjoy the company of our earthly father while others have been without them for some time. Yet, regardless of the position we are in, we have access to our heavenly Father always.

“⁵Father of the fatherless and protector of widows

is God in his holy habitation.”

— Psalm 68:5 (ESV)

Yes, there is a time to mourn the loss of a father in this world. That time is in the moment of loss and it is certainly recommended to do so. But, even in the loss, there is greatness in that we are not without. In fact, even with our earthly father still there, we are rich with the comfort of having our heavenly Father there with us as well. And when our earthly father is gone, our heavenly Father is still here to comfort and guide us forward.

Reread the verse above. See that God is with us in “holy habitation”. He is there for us regardless of where we might be. He is always there, even when we may not know it. I am taken back to the poem “Footprints in the Sand”, where God is seen as there in good times and in the bad, there is only one set of footprints where God is carrying us through. So even in the times when I am without an earthly father, God the Father is there with me.

We may not have a physical earthly father to lean on, yet we have our heavenly Father always. He is there walking alongside of us in times of joy and He carries us in times of sorrow. The thing is that He is always there for all.

What is your thoughts as relates to the Father? Are you even aware that the heavenly Father is there with you? What if you took on that you do have two fathers, earthly and heavenly, and that our heavenly Father is always there even when our earthly father is not?

Our Father, In Heaven – He Will Not Forsake Me

We have two fathers, our earthly father and our heavenly Father. Where both have a vital role in our lives, only one of them will not forsake us.

“¹⁰For my father and my mother have forsaken me,

but the LORD will take me in.”

— Psalm 27:10 (ESV)

I know what might be said and thought here as relates to the verse above, “my parents love me and would not forsake me”. Well, the truth is that they will. Earthly parents will not be here forever. They will pass and move on from this world and will likely do so before we leave. No, they may not turn their backs on you and or walk away from you, but they will leave and that in and of itself is forsaking.

I find comfort in knowing that the LORD will not leave me. He is with me today, this morning even as I sit here. He will be with me tomorrow and when I pass from this world, he will be with me in heaven. At every turn, the LORD will be with me and will not forsake me, His child.

There is no reason to speak ill of earthly parents forsaking of us. It is not their role to be with us always. They are here as stewards of God’s children, us, until that time we become mature in Christ. We should still love them and they will undoubtedly love us (taking into account those who may have been over taken by this world and the evil one). They understand that they are giving us over to our heavenly Father who they know will not forsake us as he has not forsaken them.

“¹¹Teach me your way, O Lord,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.”

— Psalm 27:11 (ESV)

Just as our earthly parents taught us in this world, our heavenly father teaches us His way. He not only does not forsake us, He leads us forward beyond the teachings of our earthly parents. He takes over in the leading us forward. Our earthly parents can only take us so far and as their teachings wain, God’s teachings become more and more important for us to lean on. Another example of God’s not forsaking us, where our earthly parents will. Again, it is not that our earthly parents choose to leave, it is just that their time has ended in our growth and the LORD takes over.

What is your understanding of the role of your earthly parents? Are you reliant on them for the entirety of your life? What if you realized and transitioned to reliance on God, knowing that your parents will leave you as their time does come to an end and God’s never does?

We are ALL Accountable

Regardless of who or what we are in this world, we are ALL accountable to keep the commandments of the LORD. This morning as I continue to study the word “father” in God’s Word, as usual, God reveals things to me that I was not expecting. I am not sure of what I was to learn this morning when I sat down, and as usual, God has His plan for me that I have to be open to.

“¹⁴And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:” — Deuteronomy 27:14 (ESV)

The word in the above verse that struck me was the word “all”. You see when you read the two verses before it, half of the tribes of Israel were “blessed” from Mount Gerizim, and half were “cursed” from Mount Ebal, but “all” were addressed in the verses after.

Yes, when you read the verses after, you see the curses that were declared and I immediately went to those who were “cursed” from Mount Ebal. I took the natural thought in just reading the words that those “blessed” from Mount Gerizim were to be excluded from the curses. But I then look back at verse nine and ten to see that all of Israel is addressed, not just those from one mount.

“⁹Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, ‘Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the Lord your God. ¹⁰You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.’” – Deuteronomy 27:9-10 (ESV)

It is not just one who is to keep the commandments of the LORD, but “ALL”. There may be a separation of where we are settled in this world, yet we are all under the God and in the same kingdom. Being in the same Kingdom of God, we are all subject to the same standards and laws. One group is not “allowed” to get away with sin while another is not.

I know that it seems as though there may be two tiers (or more) of justice as we look at consequences in this world. But I am not referring to this world specifically. I am referring to the Kingdom of God and in His Kingdom, we are all held to the same commandments and are all responsible to keeping them. God is not influenced by where we settle. He is not concerned with which mount we are from. We are “ALL” His children and are responsible to keep His commandments.

What are your thoughts on where you are settled? Are you one who thinks that because of where you are you are somehow better off in the eyes of God? What if you took the approach that we are all equal in the eyes of God and all held to the same commandment in His Kingdom, regardless of where we might be in this world?

Honor, To Go with You for Sharing

I am always intrigued when God brings me to something that He has taken me to at least once before. Like this morning, back to the Ten Commandments and the same one I studied just a few days ago. Only this time, I am seeing something different than before.

“¹⁶Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” – Deuteronomy 5:16 (ESV)

Yes, I am to honor my father and mother as commanded, but why. This morning I am able to see more of that why. I am to do so in the interest of long life and that I can take it with me and share with others. Yes, I am to share that with others as I move along into the place that God has me going.

I am sure that most have heard the saying, “do as I say, not as I do”. Well, the reason for that saying is that there is not a lot of doing and only a lot of saying. Everyone else is to follow the words except for those saying them. That does not seem to be the way of Christ and a good example of Him.

It is easy to say the words and scripture. It is something else to follow them in your daily life for all the world to see and embrace. I am to be the example of what right looks like and not just the speaker of what right looks like. I have to step away from saying the words and move toward the doing what is right. Honoring my father and mother is but one of those examples of what right looks like.

As was shared with me recently, fathers and mothers are not always deserving of honor based on their actions. And where I agree with that, God does not qualify this commandment by saying to honor them as long as they do things honorable. He does say to honor them so that you can live long and carry that honor forward. And that is the why behind the action. I can honor them by not celebrating them as the saying goes, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all”. I simply do not have to reference them, only love them in the way of Christ and work to carry forward that which is right and demonstrate the gospel to others.

My role is to carry the gospel forward and be the example of what right looks like in the process. As is also said, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. I have to imitate Christ in the way I walk and talk in this world. I have to honor my father and mother to carry that honor forward that others will do the same.

What is your approach to honor? Are you the one that speaks it and yet does not necessarily demonstrate it? What if you were the example of what right looks like and carried honor with you to live long and share forward?

Don’t Forget Your Earthly Father

“³Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.” – Leviticus 19:3 (ESV)

This morning I was brought to the passage in Leviticus titled “The LORD is Holy” as I continue my study of the word “father”. Here the focus of the passage is on the holiness of the LORD and our work to keep that alive. And yet, there is a verse of the eight that references our earthly parents. We are to hold the LORD in esteem and still revere our earthly father for the position he is in thanks to God’s infinite wisdom.

God placed me with my father for a reason. I may not know that reason for all of my time here in this world and may not even have a continued relationship with him during this time, but he is my father for some reason that God will reveal in His time.

I will say that the relationship I have with my father in this world is one more in line with a friendship as opposed to a father/son relationship. And for me, that is okay. Again, I come back to the fact that the LORD place me with him for some reason and regardless of how things are going now, I have to revere my earthly father for the position he was placed in my life.

I know that not everyone has a cordial relationship with their father. In fact, I know that there are many with a relationship, if that is what you want to call it, that may not have been very wholesome and may have been down right adversarial, abusive, and/or violent. And that is the way it goes sometimes, even in the world that God has created in all its wonder. Yet, we have an earthly father and his position in our lives is one that God placed him in and we should honor that position.

Now, let me be clear here and not paint a picture of something that does not exist. I am not saying that each of us should seek out our earthly fathers and work to create a “fake” fatherly relationship. I am simply saying that our fathers here on earth are our fathers for a reason that we may not know and that we should revere the position they hold and not always look to revere the person that they are. The reality is that there are those that are just plain bad. But even those are deserving of love from us as Christians.

Easier said than done for sure, especially when they have hurt us badly. Yet, we are to love all peoples in this world and do our work to spread the gospel to them all, regardless of what they have done.

What is your view of your earthly father? Are you looking at them for the person they are? What if you viewed them for the position they hold and realize that it is indeed God that put them in that position and they are to be revered for that position?

Commanded to Honor Your Father

I know that I have left off the other we are to honor in this world, “Mother”. I will say that I am currently studying the word “father” and will come back to “mother” in the coming weeks.

This morning I was brought to the Ten Commandments in my study. I forget the full daily value of these Commandments from God. I believe that we take them for granted in our daily living. We have been given the Commandment of not stealing, not killing, not bearing falsehoods, and yet we miss the Commandment to do something, remembering the Sabbath and honoring your father.

“¹²Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12 (ESV)

God tells us to give honor to the ones that brought you into this world. There is no mention as to whether or not you like them or that you are near them. In fact as I noted in another study and post, men are to leave their fathers. God is telling us to honor them. We are to love them and treat them with the respect.

I think the thing to remember here is not that we have a father and mother to be honored, but rather it is the Commandment of God to do so. It is such and important part of who we are as Christians to live out the Ten Commandments, I have to remember those telling me to do something is just as important as those telling me not to do something.

What is your approach to your father? Are you forgetting that you have been commanded to honor him? What if you approached all of the Commandments the same and in this instance, focused on the doing of honoring your father?

The LORD Makes Us

“⁴Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. ⁵No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.” – Genesis 17:4-5 (ESV)

Abraham was chosen by God to be the father of nations. His name was changed by God to Abraham in the process of his choosing. This choosing and making of Abraham as the father of nations is the part that is to behold at this moment. And when you look through the rest of the passage, both before and after these verses, it was much greater than just the words. Abraham was 99 years old at the time of his choosing and making.

The LORD know no boundaries. He will choose and make of whomever He needs to at that moment. God makes us into that which He needs to accomplish His will in this world. And that includes me, no I am not too old or too set in my ways or too much of a sinner. God will make me into whatever He needs me to be.

I have to believe that God has allowed me to continue learning from Him in my morning study of His Word and my thoughts and writings are doing His will. I am serving Him through my work and spreading of the gospel in the way He would have me. I may not be the one out in the not yet reached areas of the world, but He has made me to do His work here from behind my keyboard.

I know that it may seem to be easy to just sit her and type. And well, it is not physically challenging, that is right. But doing the work of God takes work and I do not take this work lightly and I work to ensure that I am in line with His will at every turn. In fact I was silent for a few weeks as I did not feel as though I was not confident in the depth of my learning and writing as I was distracted. I always want to be sure that I am devoting my time and efforts to the LORD and His work. He chose me to take this on and it is my duty to give it all of my attention.

The LORD chooses the person to complete the work and in that choosing He will make us into that which He needs in the moment. He chose and made Noah and Abraham and Moses and He will choose you as well.

What are you doing as a result of being chosen and made by God? Are you even aware that He could/would chose you? What if you dedicated yourself to the will of God and allowed Him to shape you into that which He needs?