22 Jun June 21st Weekly Devotional
You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12
One of the greatest fatherly figures that we have in the Bible wasn’t a father at all.
If he would have had his own wife and children, would he have been able to do what he did for the Lord’s church? That answer is still up for debate.
Of course there is much more to being a father to a child than the biological aspect of it, and I certainly don’t have anywhere close to everything figured out about it, but I know that God’s desire is that I carry out His will, and therefore His will would be for my children to also carry out His will, and live and grow up to be His servants.
Paul would be a father figure to so many young evangelists and he would train them up to take on the torch of spreading the gospel during his time, and certainly after he was gone.
He was a father in the faith to ones such as Timothy, and Titus, and Onesimus, probably Epaphras. He speaks specifically as a father figure to the church at Corinth, but he probably really considered all young in the faith Christians his children because of his love for the people of God.
In 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 he wrote to them, I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
He cares for and loves the Lord’s people so much, that he takes on the responsibility like that of a father would his own children. Of course, any real father would want whatever is BEST for their children, and what could be better than ETERNAL LIFE with God Almighty in heaven?
Paul is willing to do whatever it takes to bring that Holy message to the people, EVEN IF he has to DIE to do it, and that’s exactly what happens to him eventually.
He wasn’t just a teacher, or a preacher, he was a true evangelist, a spiritual guide to a way of life for the children of God, and until his dying day, this is what he lived for, faithfully carrying out the will of God, trying to make sure as many people as possible heard that message and there were plenty of others able to carry on that message when he was gone.
Am I doing the same? Are we all doing the same? Are we doing it with our own children, and all the other children that we get a chance to teach and leave a little something with? While we’re at it teaching the children, let’s teach as many adults as we can also.
What message? The Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
So during a busy week, be a father to someone too.
