“Boy, Dad! You sure are dusty!” the young boy said to his father who worked at a local feed processing plant in Ohio by during the week and pastored a community church in Ohio at night and on weekends. This almost daily exclamation received in response a tired and sometimes weary, “Yes, I sure am dusty,” from the pastor, dad, husband, and man trying to do good for his family, his community, and his Savior.
One Saturday morning while out washing the car, the Dad saw his oldest 4-year-old picking up handfuls of dirt mixed with the gravel and grit in the driveway and rubbing them into his little pants.
“What are you doing?!” the Dad asked with a curious brow and grin.
“I want to be like you, Dad!” came the reply from the beaming but determined little boy making his britches dusty.
What Dad doesn’t want to hear that?! The greatest words spoken by a child of their parent in admiration and honor are the same...”I want to be like you.”
Father’s Day was even more special as Reid Phillips, my middle son, joined me to break the bread of the Word of God together and share it at Abba’s House. Rather than write each point, I ask you to please watch. Watch on YouTube or in the Abba’s House app.
Like my favorite ice cream cake that my mom, Paulette, painstakingly prepares (definitely delicious!), I can write all about it. I can even share a photo of it. But until you experience it for yourself, you’ll never know how good it is!
Watch. Observe, take in with your eyes, ears, and spiritual perceptions. Challenge yourself to ask how you relate to Abba – our Heavenly Daddy or Father. Honestly assess how you welcome the One Who God gave us to comfort, to act as our inner conscious for godliness and goodness, and to cover us in His protections.
Father’s Day hit differently for each person. Some reading this may have had an incredibly blessed day of worship at church, a delicious meal and fellowship with family, and maybe even a gift or card.
Others may have some distance between them and their family members. That distance is often created by our career choices, marriages that bring about a move, or just desires to live beyond our hometown.
Some may not have an earthly father to celebrate due to death, broken relationships, or even just not knowing their dad at all.
Relationships on this earth may be imperfect and even deeply flawed. But the relationship with Abba, our heavenly Father, is meant to be much different than those of this earth. To understand this relationship and to enjoy a love like nothing imaginable, let’s look at the love of God our Father that gave us, first, His Son, then His Spirit.
It’s as simple as what God did...He gave. For God, in His Most Holy, Highest Authority wanted His created life that was made in His image – with a spirit living in a fleshly body governed by a soul or will – to fellowship with Him. To do that, we must be made holy and with our sins covered. For God so loved the world to cover our sins that He gave His Son, Jesus.
Want to know what God would be like if we were to meet Him in person? Read the Bible. God’s Word was made flesh and His fullness – God’s entire essence – came in Jesus. God incarnate. Because of this great sacrifice and act of love, those who believe and follow Jesus are adopted as children (Galatians 4:6 and Romans 8:15). Not only are we adopted, but we are also given His Spirit.
God’s Spirit – the Third Person of the Trinity – mirrors the third aspect of our human existence. Remember, our spirit lives within our own flesh. But the Holy Spirit is just that — Holy. He has a distinct role as part of the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit is the very Spirit of God expressing His presence, will, and power in the here and now at all places and at all times. How? He is God.
If the Holy Spirit lives in you, so does the Father. He reflects the love of the Father and the finished work of Jesus Christ. All of this is so because the Living and Most High God loves you.
Like the young boy in the opening story, my son Reid has rubbed the gravel and grit into his pants like his dad, and granddad, Dr. Ron Phillips, Sr., to be a messenger for the Gospel. You may have a dad you’ve modeled. Maybe you’re a dad with eyes watching you for replication. Or maybe you’re in need, as we all are, of a Father.
Just welcome Him. Invite His Spirit to live in and through you. You may look down to see you’re rubbing the gravel and grit into your pants and becoming more and more like God the Father – love in its purest and highest form.