June 21st

Heartguard

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 1 Corinthians 4:14-15

Let me tell you God's plan-it's that you would have a father and not just a teacher.

The difference is that you look like your father, you have his name, you sound like him, you pick up the same mannerisms so that you act like him even on accident, and even if you don't like it, you still often can't get away from these things.

But a teacher, you know, I can't tell you how many teachers I've had in all my years of school. A small handful of them stand out to me, but maybe none of them impacted me the way my father did. You can probably say the same thing.

Only someone who comes along and fathers you in the faith can impact your life in a way that compares to the impact of your natural father. This kind of spiritual fathering is a good thing, but here's the deal-there will not be many fathers in your life. Their impact will be profound, shaping your faith, your doctrine, your beliefs, and your way of life.

That's why you need fathers, because fathers will help shape you. Teachers, on the other hand, are so numerous that you can pick which ones you want to hear and reject the rest.

It is way too easy to change churches these days. I mean, I praise God for all the churches in America and I thank Him for our Christian heritage, but not every church preaches the truth. Too many dance around the difficult, hard hitting issues that might offend people. But you know what? The Bible has issues in it that might offend people, so I don't have a choice; I'm going to preach on everything and I have and will offend people.

That's because I want to be a father. I'm not just a teacher, trying to make a living off of you, so I'll tickle your ears with whatever you want to hear. No, I'm trying to be a father who cares about you, so I tell you what you need to hear whether you like it or not.

What this world needs right now is not more teachers. What it needs most is more fathers.

Prayer Father God,

Thank You that You're a good father who cares enough about me that You save me from driving my life the wrong way! Thank You for loving me enough to point me in the right way. I choose to humble myself today and listen to the fathers you have put in my life.

Amen