You have heard the references to sons – “He is a chip of the old block” or “The apple did not fall far from the tree.” The implication is if your dad was a good athlete, you would be a good athlete or if he was good in business that you would have a good mind for business as well. But if your dad was an alcoholic or a womanizer, the implication is not a positive one. The heritage of a father can be positive or negative.

The young man’s dad was an alcoholic and failed to provide for the family financially, emotionally or spiritually. As a son, he had a chip on his shoulder and wanted to fall as far away from the tree as possible. He was determined to overcome the negative influence of his dad. To fill the financial, emotional and spiritual voids in his life, he worked hard to secure a well-paying job. He relished in the accolades that went with each step up the corporate ladder and began worshiping the almighty dollar.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. – Romans 8:15-17. Fear can set in whether a man is trying to overcome a bad home situation or trying to measure up to his dad’s expectations. The Heavenly Father says there is nothing to fear if we will embrace the Spirit of sonship. On the journey to become the father the Father calls us to be, we must first be the son He wants us to be. Our earthly fathers have a powerful influence for the journey we are on as men and we have the responsibility to respond to that influence in a way that glorifies the Father. Our Heavenly Father provides a rich history that we can draw from as heirs of Him and co-heirs with Jesus the Christ.

When the young man embraced the Spirit of sonship, it became very obvious how he had filled the voids in relationship with his dad with worldly performance and status. Under the Spirit of sonship, he began to rebuke the unhealthy priorities he had established and began growing in relationship with the Father through Jesus the Christ. As he started learning to love as Christ loved, to think as He thought, and serve as He served, the voids in relationship with his dad were filled with the love of the Father and wounds were healed.

Prayer guide: Lord, thank You for the earthly father You blessed me with. His influence prepared me for battles I would face in life. Forgive my disrespect of that influence for too many years. Thank You for being my Heavenly Father, that through Jesus the Christ I can be the son You want me to be and become the father You call me to be. I accept responsibility in the Spirit of sonship to be the man, husband and father my family needs.  Amen.

A faithful father embraces the Spirit of sonship to become the father he is called to be.