Imagine you suddenly inherit a great fortune from a family member you have never met. Sounds like the opening scene to a great adventure film, right?
Actually, it really did happen.
For years, my friend, Frank, and his wife led a happy, humble life. Frank’s wife was adopted as a baby, but never pursued a search for her biological parents. As it turns out, they were searching for her. The parents, who were young when they gave her up for adoption, later married and had more children. They wanted to reconnect with the child they had given up so many years ago. And, they were extremely wealthy.
In the end, Frank’s wife and her birth parents reunited. She was introduced to a whole family she didn’t know she had. She also received a huge inheritance that changed her life — and Frank’s – forever.
While it’s unlikely any of us will inherit surprise financial riches like Frank’s wife, we, as Christian fathers, receive a much more valuable inheritance from God – not just for some day in heaven, but for today and every day.
St. Peter states this clearly, “…and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you…” 1 Peter 1:4 (part)
We have this inheritance because of a unique and special relationship with God – we are His adopted sons. It is our relationship with Jesus that brings us to the place of being called “a son of God.”
“You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:26-4:7 (NIV)
To live as sons of God, we need to get close in our relationship with Him and put His words into action. Nowhere is this more important than in our roles as husbands and fathers.
It’s No Accident!
Frank’s wife may have been considered a bit of an “accident” when she was born, but for Christian dads, your becoming a father is no accident. Not only is it not an accident or a mere act of biology, you have intentionally been chosen by God and called to be a dad – and this truth changes everything. Because if God has called you, then he will equip you to be the father he has intended you to be. You are not alone in being a dad. God has placed inside of you the ability to be the father he has called you to be.
Our task is to simply turn to God and ask him to bring these God-given abilities to the forefront so they can be a blessing to our families – to help lead our families into the heavenly inheritance that God has prepared for us that will never perish, spoil or fade (1 Peter 1:4).
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. I Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV)
Embracing the reality of our sonship with our Heavenly Father and building on this relationship will help us build strong, positive relationships with our children. So son, spend more time with your Heavenly Father and continue being built into a great dad!
Dan Dolsen is the founder and director of The Fatherhood Project-Building Great Dads. The Fatherhood Project’s mission is to build great dads by equipping them with the tools to lead their families in the roles of provider, protector, partner and preparer. The Fatherhood Project is a Christian ministry and a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. The Fatherhood Project may be found at www.buildinggreatdads.org .
© 2019 The Fatherhood Project-Building Great Dads. Not to be reproduced or copied without permission of Dan Dolsen. PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH OTHERS! All Bible quotations are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.