Devotion: Father’s Day
Please take a moment and read the scripture from this weekend: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
In the week leading up to Father’s Day, I was thinking fondly about some of the special things that my dad taught me how to do when I was growing up. We lived outside of town on an acreage. I remembered sitting with him on the steps of our back deck shucking sweet corn and standing side by side at the kitchen sink, snapping beans into ice-cold water. I thought about his workshop where he spent many hours puttering. I can still smell the dust from when he made me practice welding metal scrap pieces together. He never wanted anything to get in the way of my “A” average in school, so he made sure that I could weld just as well as the boys.
In worship on Father’s Day, the scripture reading was from one of the apostle Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. The care that is talked about throughout that letter, reminded me of the care my dad showed to me in my childhood. All Paul wanted to do was to bring the gospel to the people. He truly believed he had been entrusted by God to deliver a message and that’s what he wanted to do. He wanted to please God and complete the task.
Paul knew that caring for and encouraging the people was the way to bring God into their lives. In verse 8 he states, “So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves.” Paul wanted to connect and mentor the people of Thessalonica. He chose to walk alongside them, to encourage and care for them and that was truly meaningful.
This weekend, Pastor Greg ended his Father’s Day message by telling us we all need to be intentional about connecting to others. He urged all people, not just men and fathers, but daughters, spouses and mothers too, to adopt Paul’s model of accompaniment with the people that we love. He encouraged us to not isolate and withdraw, but rather be intentional about engaging and mentoring. Pastor Greg believes that when we do that, God will show up in our midst.
God does show up when we’re connecting with the people we love. He was present with Paul and the people of the church of Thessalonica. He was there when a small-town dad taught his daughter skills he thought would serve her well. God will always be there when we are intentionally engaging and caring for those we love and serve.
Gracious Father,
Thank you for entering into our relationships. Bless our efforts to care for each other. Bless our attempts to love as you have taught us how to love. Be in our everyday moments as we love, grow and share in a way that would honor you.
In the mighty, precious and saving name of Jesus, Amen.
Written by Julie Anderson
Julie Anderson is a member of Sheridan’s Devotion Writing Team. She works as Sheridan’s Children’s Music Coordinator where she is passionate about teaching children to use their musical gifts to praise God.
Julie is married to Scott and counts her greatest honor as being mom to Adrienne, Eliot and Elise.