June 23rd, 2026
Good morning, church family!
Sadly, I have almost no childhood memories of celebrating Father’s Day. As an adult, however, I called Dad to talk every Father’s Day. Boy, I would give just about anything to have one more of those conversations with him.
Being a father is one of the greatest blessings in my life. The kids would often give me cards they made for Father’s Day which were so precious - even if I had to have the artwork explained to me! We developed our own Father's Day tradition: go to church, come home and grill steaks and spend the rest of the day playing games or just relaxing. Now, I look forward to hearing these sweet words: “Happy Father’s Day, Grandpa!”
What a blessing to know we have, as the song says, a “Good, Good Father.” The Apostle John marveled at “the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” (I John 3:1). God is not reluctant in giving out his love; rather he has lavished it on us. This is a very active word in the Greek of the New Testament, implying God has poured out on us the very depths of his unfailing love.
Paul used three powerful descriptors in articulating the Father’s lavished love. First, we have “redemption through his blood” (Eph. 1:7). Redemption implies the securing of our release by the payment of a ransom. The ransom paid, the cost of our release from the penalty of sin, was the blood of Jesus. God the Father, in full cooperation with God the Son, birthed this incredible plan of redemption “before the creation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). Lavish love indeed!
Second, we can know “the forgiveness of sins” (v. 7). The word forgiveness implies the full release from an obligation, from a debt hanging over you. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God in Christ is eternal life in the Father’s presence (cf. Rom. 6:23). This gift of forgiveness “purifies us from all sin (I John 1:7). Not some, much or even most, but all our sin. Lavish love indeed!
Finally, we can experience “the riches of God's grace” (v. 7). The biblical writers used grace to describe many facets of the riches of God. We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). By grace we can approach God’s throne with confidence (Heb. 4:16). By grace we are gifted for ministry (Rom. 12:6). By grace we are strengthened daily for the journey (Heb. 13:7). From conversion till called home, we live by the riches of God’s grace. Lavish love indeed!
God is a father who specialized in the giving and not the receiving of gifts. Regardless of how or even if you celebrate Father’s Day – in ways big or small – you have a Father’s Day to look forward to, when Abba welcomes you into his arms and whispers, “welcome home, my child.” Hallelujah!
Blessings,
Pastor David
Sadly, I have almost no childhood memories of celebrating Father’s Day. As an adult, however, I called Dad to talk every Father’s Day. Boy, I would give just about anything to have one more of those conversations with him.
Being a father is one of the greatest blessings in my life. The kids would often give me cards they made for Father’s Day which were so precious - even if I had to have the artwork explained to me! We developed our own Father's Day tradition: go to church, come home and grill steaks and spend the rest of the day playing games or just relaxing. Now, I look forward to hearing these sweet words: “Happy Father’s Day, Grandpa!”
What a blessing to know we have, as the song says, a “Good, Good Father.” The Apostle John marveled at “the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” (I John 3:1). God is not reluctant in giving out his love; rather he has lavished it on us. This is a very active word in the Greek of the New Testament, implying God has poured out on us the very depths of his unfailing love.
Paul used three powerful descriptors in articulating the Father’s lavished love. First, we have “redemption through his blood” (Eph. 1:7). Redemption implies the securing of our release by the payment of a ransom. The ransom paid, the cost of our release from the penalty of sin, was the blood of Jesus. God the Father, in full cooperation with God the Son, birthed this incredible plan of redemption “before the creation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). Lavish love indeed!
Second, we can know “the forgiveness of sins” (v. 7). The word forgiveness implies the full release from an obligation, from a debt hanging over you. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God in Christ is eternal life in the Father’s presence (cf. Rom. 6:23). This gift of forgiveness “purifies us from all sin (I John 1:7). Not some, much or even most, but all our sin. Lavish love indeed!
Finally, we can experience “the riches of God's grace” (v. 7). The biblical writers used grace to describe many facets of the riches of God. We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). By grace we can approach God’s throne with confidence (Heb. 4:16). By grace we are gifted for ministry (Rom. 12:6). By grace we are strengthened daily for the journey (Heb. 13:7). From conversion till called home, we live by the riches of God’s grace. Lavish love indeed!
God is a father who specialized in the giving and not the receiving of gifts. Regardless of how or even if you celebrate Father’s Day – in ways big or small – you have a Father’s Day to look forward to, when Abba welcomes you into his arms and whispers, “welcome home, my child.” Hallelujah!
Blessings,
Pastor David
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