What A Father's Like

When we stepped into the writers’ room, the seed lyric was simple…

Show me what a father’s like

Show me what a father’s for

As human beings created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), one of the things we struggle with most is our identity. In order to fully understand who we are, we must first understand whose we are.

Throughout Scripture, God has continually revealed himself as Father. First to Moses at the burning bush, where He declared himself Father over the nation of Israel (Exodus 4:22-23). Then, in the New Testament, Jesus referred to God as his Father over 100 times in John’s gospel alone. When His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray (Matthew 6:9), Jesus began with the gentle and intimate words, “Our Father who art in heaven...” 

To fully understand who we are, we must understand whose we are.

By faith in Jesus, we become children of God (Galatians 3:26). God gives us His Spirit and we become His adopted sons and daughters. In that moment, our identity is gifted to us by our Heavenly Father, who invites us to cry out to Him, saying, “Abba Father!” We are no longer lost or struggling for a sense of belonging. Instead, we are part of the family of God, who faithfully demonstrates true fatherhood.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. – Romans 8:14-17

All of our worship, all of our prayers, all of our delight flows from this identity as adopted sons and daughters.

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home… – Psalm 68:5-6

So how is God showing you His Father’s heart today, and how are you bearing His image as a beloved child of God today?

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread,

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors;

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

Amen.