What do you think of when you hear the word–father? When a human term is used of God, we take the core of that term–what it basically stands for–and strip it of all imperfection, sin and limitation. Only then may it rightly reflect God. And even then it captures only a small glimpse of who He is. Though God has revealed Himself through many terms, Jesus clearly identified one title as His favorite. “This, then is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven…” (Matt 6:9). Fatherhood at its core is strength, dependability, courage and love. God is our perfect and unchanging Father in all these and many more ways. He is “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:6).

Though Fatherhood uniquely represents the Father’s relationship with the Son, the basic features of fatherhood are equally shared by each Person of the Trinity. So, it could be said of the coming Messiah, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…and he will be called …Everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6). The Spirit leads us to pray, “Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15). Jesus and the Spirit, too, are always like a perfect father to us.

Fatherhood also speaks of origins. A father produces children. Our identity is linked in special ways with our fathers. “You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who have you birth” (Deut 32:18). God relentlessly reminds believers that He will be our Father and we will be His sons (2 Sam 7:14; 2 Cor 6:18; Rev 21:3). He will not give over His beloved children to sin and Satan, however much we might in times of weakness desire it (see Hosea). “No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:29).“Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us. But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, or Israel acknowledge us; you, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name” (Isa 63:15-16). He will not disown His children.

The Prodigal Son was not thinking soundly when he left his loving father to live in sin. When he came to his senses, he returned to his father and found him to be what he always was: forgiving and full of love. How much more foolish are we whenever we stray from our Heavenly Father? “…You saw how the Lord your God carried you as a father carries his son” (Deut 1:31). “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!”(Heb 12:9). Fools leave a good father in the pursuit of “life.” True life is walking with our Father.