A Father's Love

​At its core, being a father means one who forms and nurtures another human being. What generates these actions is love. To experience true love, we must look to Father God. He is the One who takes immense joy in pouring out His love upon us. He tells us in Song of Solomon that He takes us to His banqueting table and that His banner over us is love. We were made in His image which means we are made to receive and give love. True love transforms a person.
 
Sadly, many in the world today do not understand the true meaning of love. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that if we "have not learned to love, we are nothing." It goes on to define love: "Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one's achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up. Love never stops loving..." (Verses 4-8 - TPT) 
 
May I suggest that it is the enemy of our souls who has twisted the meaning of true love. Because so many children have not received or are not receiving the love they were made for, they are buying into lies and looking for love in the wrong places. A primary purpose for fathers is to give their children love. Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, reports in an article from June 10, 2025, that nearly one-quarter of children live apart from their biological fathers. He writes, "A child without a dad is five times more likely to experience poverty, nine times more likely to drop out of school, and far likelier to battle identity confusion." I would also add that the terror organizations across the world have been able to entice young men into their communities who are looking for acceptance. These young people are confused about their identities and truth, so they willingly obey commands from mentally unstable leaders to carry out unthinkable violence.
 
For those of us who are Christians, we have a dual responsibility: We must abide in the love of our Father so that we can give that love away. John 15:9-13 quotes Jesus: "I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts. If you keep my commands you will live in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands, for I continually live nourished and empowered by His love. My purpose for telling you these things is so that the joy that I experience will fill your hearts with overflowing gladness! So this is my command: Love each other deeply, as much as I have loved you. For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all..." (TPT)
 
Let's think about what Jesus did for us. Could it have been the love of our Heavenly Father that gave Him the strength to complete the call on His life? I believe so. Also, let us think about the depth of the love of Father God who was willing to sacrifice His precious Son. He did this for us! It is my prayer that we will spend part of Father's Day contemplating the great love of our Heavenly Father and that we would be intentional about loving someone else who is in our lives. Here is what Tony Perkins says about the great need in our country for father figures:  "America needs men who understand their purpose, love sacrificially, and lead spiritually." Amen!