My Big Dad

October 4, 2021

Reverence for the Lord gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security. Proverbs 14:26 TLB

One of the most consistent and precious qualities of children from good homes (not perfect, but good and adequate) is the way they see their dad or mom. They see their parents are giants, protectors, a safe place. It’s not unusual to hear young boys compare fathers and say, “My dad is bigger than your dad.” Or a child will announce, “My mom can do that,” “My dad is stronger.” They have confidence in their parents, and when they experience fear or need, they scurry to their dependable parent.

That’s what God intended when He designed the family. You can begin to comprehend the value God puts in the family when you realize that when His own Son, God Himself, was taking on humanity and coming into the world to live for a season, He came as a baby, just like every other human. He was born into a family with a father and mother to raise Him. The record tells us that He learned to obey them and that they taught Him life skills. Jesus was God. He could have come into the world as a man, fully downloaded and ready to go. But the wise Father put Him into a home and family and allowed little boy Jesus to grow up in the shelter and love of a good and godly home.

Have you ever thought about that? Joseph knew this boy was his stepson, not his biological son. He had other children. Yet he loved his boy Jesus and taught Him his very own trade. He shared his carpenter’s shop and trained him there. Do you think Jesus ever got teased, bullied, or scorned? Of course He did. He grew up in scarred, self-centered humanity just as we do. But we know that His parents loved God. They had reverence for the Lord. The accounts of Matthew and Luke tell us they were handpicked to be the parents of Jesus because they were godly, reverent people of great character and love.

So Jesus was raised in a home where His human parents, not His heavenly Father alone, created a place of refuge and security for Him. Think of the comfort and stability that gave Him. No wonder after His father Joseph passed away Jesus remained so close to His mother. She followed Him all the way to the cross, trying to comfort Him and be His refuge. I can only imagine the calm and balm she was to His hurting heart when He looked from the cross and saw that all His friends had forsaken Him, but Mom was still here.

What if God has specifically handpicked you to be a safe refuge for YOUR children? I believe He has.

• Oh God, help me love You in such a way that my children always find refuge in me.