Good morning. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. We had a great time of worship in choir singing today before we moved to the sermon. It was an amazing message from the Lord of how important fathers really are and how that a father must use his abilities given by God to train up his child in the way that he should go. The sermon text started from Luke 15:11. The story was of the prodigal son but in this text we looked at a different light that we normally don’t choose from and that is the fact that the father in this situation was quite the godly man. He protected his children; he watched over his children; he provided for them and evidently gave them a good sense of the Lord’s direction at this point in the story. After taking his inheritance and leaving home, the prodigal son found himself at a place where he was starving and desired to eat with the swine, and finally the Bible says he came to himself. He came to Christ and realized the story is so true that sometimes it takes the last thread of hope or a difficult position to realize that there is a God and loving father that cares. So when he came to himself he said, “I have sinned against heaven and against my father, and I must go home even at my father’s house because even his servants have more than enough. I must go home deserving nothing else.” So he heads to his home. His father sees him a long way off and runs to meet him, hugs him, kisses him, commands the servants bring a ring to put on his finger and robe on his boy and shoes on his feet. The moral of the story is the father, regardless of what his son has done, forgives him. He runs to him to shelter and comfort him. He misses him. He loves him so he overshadows him and blesses him with comfort, putting clothes on him, meeting his immediate needs. Then he demands that the fatted calf be slaughtered and they have a party to welcome his son back home. A father‘s role is very important. In this role it shows us the power of the father, just like our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father is loving beyond all that we can think of or imagine. He’s compassionate, he’s forgiving, he’s longsuffering, he looks past our problems to minister unto us. He takes whatever journey he must take to reach us. He cares for us and longs to have a relationship with us. Our Father is truly the greatest father of all, Jesus our Lord and Savior. If we come to the cross he will save us, if we were praying before him, and give us a new life. Life is not worth living without Christ. Not saying that it’s always easy but it sure is much easier in every situation as long as we have Christ. He’s always working on our behalf. He’s always praying on our behalf. He’s always looking out for his children. Just as an earthly father knows how to give good gifts unto their children, how much more shall our Heavenly Father give them to them that ask. What an amazing story. Fathers, we must be a reflection of the true light. That light is Jesus Christ. We are to be loving, compassionate, merciful, forgiving, and always teaching and training in the things of God. God bless you all on this beautiful week. To every father out there, happy Father’s Day. P.S. On our prayer list this week please continue to remember Tony and Donna Avant as they are recovering from the accident; also remember the family. Also remember all the family of Aunt Tain Albritton, who passed away this past week. Our prayers go out to them and everyone who has lost a loved one. It’s a hard thing but God is a healer of the heart and soul, and God knows all things. We may not know right now the reason for passing away but we do know that it’s appointed unto man once to die. We do know that God is in control and all things work together for them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. God bless you all and have a great week. In Jesus’ name, amen.
