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1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
6 The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him. – Psalm 67
Happy Father’s Day to everyone! Many of you know the joy of being a parent, to know that you have been a part of creating someone that loves you in return, that perhaps knows you mistakes, and shortcoming, but loves you the same. There is some real truth in knowing the loving relationship between a parent and child. Seeing it as a reflection of the type of relationship that Jesus has between him and our heavenly Father.
It took me a long time to realize it, but Jesus teachings on how God is the heavenly Father, how Jesus desires that his followers would have a relationship with the Heavenly as he does, and Jesus expressions of how it is we can talk to our Heavenly Father are astonishing.
In every regard, God is the Almighty, God is ethereal, and human kind is so under God that we should not dare to look towards the face of God. Even in the old testament of our Bible, those who have an encounter with God cover their faces, are afraid, feel that they are unworthy of being acknowledged by the divine. Yet, Jesus teaches us to have the type of relationship with God, that we would have with an earthly father.
We can turn to God with all our emotions, when happy, sad, irritated, angry, and God wants to hear how our (us little individual humans) day has gone. God wants us to come to him in the morning, with a hug, and hope for a spectacular day. God wants to laugh with us, cry with us, and be with us through the hardships of life, as well as rejoice with us through the good stuff.
God, makes “his face shine upon us,” and that is a huge deal!
Today, for those who still have a father around, or have a child in which we are a father (or a mother) think about the love you have for your child, and that love that extended back towards your father. We might remember hard times, or mistakes made either way, but it doesn’t - at least I hope is doesn’t - neglect the love that is there. The love that is a reflection of our relationship with the divine. Our Heavenly Father, who loves us, blesses us, and want to have a relationship with us through Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord.
May the face of God truly shine on us and bless us this Father’s Day! Happy Father’s Day!
Grace & Peace,
Sam