Son of a great dad that seemed to always be there at the right time. Son of a good dad that did his best to provide but work kept him too busy to have a catch with you. Son of a dad you never did know because your biological mom gave you up for adoption, and it was a ‘closed’ adoption. Do you fit one of these scenarios or are you somewhere between them?

Whatever the situation, being a son is being under the influence of a dad. The power of a father is generational – sins of the father to the third and fourth generation (Exodus.20:5). And there is obviously genetic influence – the mental and physical characteristics passed on through family DNA. When it comes to fathering, men emulate their father, often unknowingly. Whether a son works to follow a good example set by his dad or makes an intentional decision to overcome a negative influence, it is with eyes focused on his earthly father. Eyes need to turn to the Heavenly Father for guidance.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves again to fear; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. … heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, …” – Romans 8:15-17. Jesus promoted His disciples from slaves to friends (John 15:15) as they engaged in His ministry. Then upon His resurrection, they were raised to the level of brothers when He met Mary in the garden – “Go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”- John 20:17. In Romans, Paul clarifies that through Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension, all are brothers in Christ and sons of the most high God. Wow! We have a perfect Father! The call is to embrace sonship, focus eyes on the Heavenly Father and emulate Him.

We all have an earthly father that is responsible for us being here. And every father’s primary role is to help his children build a relationship with the perfect Father. This prepares children to fill voids that inevitably exist relationally with their earthly father in a healthy way. When this is not done well, the voids can become emotional and spiritual chasms. Kids trying to navigate through the chasms with no connection to the Heavenly Father struggle with relationships and authority. This is behind many of our societal woes. But we serve an awesome God that is more than able to fill whatever voids exist with the earthly father we were blessed with. You may not recognize your biological father, adoptive father or father-figure as a blessing in your life but he is. Our Heavenly Father is always shaping us for His glory, often in ways we would not choose for ourselves. Get to know Him through His word, particularly in the gospels of Matthew and John, and Romans. As you embrace sonship under the Heavenly Father, you will become the father your children need.

Prayer guide: Father, thank You for Your Word and for being Abba. I was a text book case of a kid with voids becoming chasms that I tried to fill in all the wrong ways. Circumstances and prayer opened my eyes to You as my Heavenly Father. As I honored my earthly father and embraced sonship under You, the journey of becoming the father You call me to be began. I pray all dads experience such an epiphany, embrace the Spirit of sonship, turn eyes to You and become the fathers the next generation needs. Amen.

A faithful father embraces the Spirit of sonship to become the father the next generation needs.