Reflection on Father's Day - from church

During church services on Father’s Day the hymn which set my mind to thinking was that of “Faith of our Fathers”. I have been an individual that has always listened to words and that training and focus has been amplified over the past several years in my life. The scriptural foundation for this hymn comes from Hebrews 11:6. The Bible says, without faith it is impossible to please him. The hymn is one of most challenging words and thought actions. An individual singing this hymn makes several statements of personal faith, and these are all based upon the witness and example we have seen from our Father. 1) That we will win all nations for the cause of Christ. 2) Dungeon, fire nor sword will cause us to stop living for Him. 3) And that we will live our lives with kindly words and a virtuous life. 4) That we will love both friend and foe in all our strife.
This hymn is a great example of real preaching without an actual sermon to listen to. Most folks would say they like toe stomping preaching, well, here’s hymn stomping without a doubt. The challenges are so strong and cause us to have such a inter reflection that considering such could really change us as Christians. “Faith of our Fathers” presents a real sense of accountability for those we are watching, and for those that are looking at us as we live our lives. Actually it is sobering to consider the spiritual heritage that our children will have will be what they have learned from us. Makes one immediately want to say, “oh me”, right?
Personal evaluation in life is always difficult, especially if we are true to ourselves, and trust our own evaluation. I have often given the counsel to individuals that if you are going to lie, lie to others, but don’t lie to yourself. The reason for this counsel is because once you lie to yourself you have no one you can trust. Of course the best counsel is to not lie to anyone, yourself nor others. When it comes to our Christian walk of faith where are you in the honesty factor of your relationship? Are you living your life in such a way that your positive life wins others to Christ? When you are up against the battle of battle are you fighting against the dungeon, fire and sword?
Honesty, I would think, would cause each of us to see our failures in our walks and lives of faith for Him. I believe personal reflection is not about doing so to put a lid or close the casket on our lives or actions, but rather a personal tool for good. None of us would like to admit we have failed. None of us would like to admit we are not the best example to watch. None of us wants to be used as the poster child for ‘don’t live your life this way’. Yet, we are all those things too. In my personal life of faith one of the things I have learned to embrace and understand about Jesus Christ is that He does not want to condemn us, but when His word says that He came to seek and to save that which is lost, it means just that. All of us included. I have learned to embrace the fact of faith that our lives is about pressing toward the prize, it is about our confession that we are not able to go on, and that we can only go forward because we can only do all things through Him.
Not sure what you did on Father’s Day. It might have been you had a cookout, went to the lake, attended church, had a family dinner at home, or it was just another normal Sunday, whatever that might be for you. Could have been you received a gift from your child, or children. Maybe you received a phone call and from the other line you heard an “I love you” and “Happy Father’s Day”. For me, I enjoyed church, the music was especially challenging to my ears and my way of thinking has been challenged, how about yours?

Until then