Watch the Devotion

Based on Matthew 10:32-33

Since this Sunday is Father’s Day, I’d like to say happy Father’s Day to the men who have the privilege of serving the vocations of both father and war fighter. Happy Father’s Day also to those men who serve as the supportive spouse to their wives who serve in our nation’s military.  

And since it’s Father’s Day, I’d like to share a little bit about my father. At his confirmation he was given Matthew 10:32-33 as his confirmation verse. Here Jesus says, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). I have to say that my father embodies those words from Jesus. He is not shy when it comes to sharing Jesus with complete strangers and often ends the conversation with an invitation to church.  

But then Jesus follows up by saying, “Whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:33). I can also say this about my father: he hasn’t always been faithful in carrying out the will of his Father in heaven. He is a sinner. As a father of five children, I know that I have not always been the faithful father. My dad, and my wife and kiddos could point out where I have failed as a father. I know that I am a sinner, too.  

How often have we as fathers failed to say the loving thing even when it hurts, to point out sinful attitudes of our spouse or children, so that they repent, confess and admit their sin, and then hear Jesus’ absolution from our lips, “You are forgiven!” That doesn’t happen often enough in our home. What about yours? Yes, fathers are imperfect – your father, this father, and those of you who serve in the vocation of father.   

But what Jesus says about me and my dad to his Father in heaven is this: “These two, Paul and Fritz, they belong here with us, the Father and the Son.” He says that about you, too, fathers. And you sons and daughters, say this to your fathers this Father’s Day, “You belong to Jesus and to his Father.” For God loved the world in this way: he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

This Father’s Day, point your father to Jesus, the one who obeyed his Father’s will perfectly for your father. And for you, fathers, know and believe that Jesus acknowledges you before his Father in heaven as one who is forgiven, as one who is a son of the Father in heaven, adopted into his family through the waters of holy baptism.   

Go and be a faithful, forgiven, father. Go and forgive fathers, just as your Father has forgiven and loved you.   

Prayer:

Gracious God our Father, grant people everywhere the blessing of a loving father at home. In homes where fathers have neglected their duties or have been absent, help the children to persevere and to find in your Word their ideal for parenthood. Direct us to honor, love and respect our earthly fathers. Keep your children in the one true faith in Jesus so that families may spend eternity together in heaven. In your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California.

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