HOW TO BECOME MORE LIKE GOD THE FATHER

TEXT- MATTHEW 23:9

INTRODUCTION

TODAY IS A DAY THAT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE BY MAN IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO ARE FATHERS.

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO WISH EACH OF YOU THAT ARE FATHERS A VERY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A CROWDED PLACE, SUCH AS IN A MALL OR AT A BALLGAME, AND HEAR SOMEONE CALL OUT, "HEY, DAD!" IF YOU ARE A FATHER, YOU PROBABLY INSTINCTIVELY LOOKED AROUND TO SEE WHO'S CALLING. THIS SHOULD REMIND US ALL OF THE UNIVERSAL NATURE OF THE NAME DAD. IT'S A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL LABEL.

FATHERS HAVE AN INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITY--AND ALSO A GREAT PRIVILEGE. ALL OF US WHO ANSWER TO "HEY, DAD!" HAVE AT LEAST ONE CHILD WHO LOOKS TO US FOR PROTECTION, LOVE, GUIDANCE, FRIENDSHIP, TRAINING, DISCIPLINE, AND SO MUCH MORE.

I FOR ONE CAN'T THINK OF A MORE REWARDING JOB. BEING A DAD MEANS THAT GOD HAS ENTRUSTED ME WITH THE TASK OF TRAINING MY CHILDREN IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO (PROV. 22:6). HE HAS GIVEN ME THE DUTY TO TEACH THEM THE FEAR OF THE LORD (PS. 128). HE HAS ASKED ME TO BRING THEM UP IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD WITHOUT EXASPERATING THEM (EPH. 6:4). HE HAS ALLOWED ME TO SHARE THE HERITAGE OF FAITH. AND FOR MY EFFORTS I GET LOTS OF HUGS AND KISSES, REALLY NEAT FATHER'S DAY CARDS, AND THE CHANCE TO HEAR, "HEY, DAD!"

GOD KNOWS THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND JOYS OF FATHERHOOD BECAUSE HE'S OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. AND AS OUR FATHER HE WILL GIVE US WHAT WE NEED TO CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD OUR FATHER THAT ARE FOUND IN THE BIBLE AND HOW THEY RELATE TO BEING A FATHER TODAY.