Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
It is so hard to believe that this year is moving along in the way it is. Some things are beginning to return to ‘normal’ (whatever that is) and some new things are coming to the forefront. It just seems like life is moving forward.
Father’s Day has once again come and gone. This is the 6th Father’s Day s since my Dad left this life to see his heavenly Father. I know that his peace goes beyond anything I could ever imagine. While I am sad that I won’t ever hear his voice again or be able to see his smile, I am so thankful that he is at home with Jesus.
There are times when I think about the things that he shared with me about the Lord. He was always so confident in his faith that it gave me and our family a great peace. His life was lived so that we and all who met him would know that his faith in Christ was the most important thing to him.
I remember one time when I was working with him in the grocery store and I needed to ask him something but couldn’t find him. I looked all through the store then finally stepped out the back door by the pop bottle room. Then I heard his voice. He was talking to the Coca-Cola delivery person, telling them about Jesus.
I waited because I knew it was an important time for him. He shared Christ with the delivery man then asked him if he wanted to pray and ask Jesus into his heart. The man said yes and then prayed for Jesus to forgive him, come into his heart and save him from his sins.
As I look back now, that is just what Dad did. His desire was for people to come to know Christ as their Savior and follow Him as their Lord. He would share Christ at every opportunity because he never knew when another opportunity would come.
Dad’s desire for people to know Christ started with his family. It was his desire, hope and prayer that his children would come to know Christ and follow Him as Lord. It wasn’t just something he did on Sunday but something that was with him each day.
Dad truly was a disciplinarian but it grew out of his love for us as his children and for the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 says – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Out of his discipline he taught us love, respect and obedience.
When I was younger I often wondered if Dad really loved me. It seemed that his discipline was a part of my every day experience. I realize that probably had to do more with my actions than what he desired. He wanted me to know of his love and move me in the direction God had for me.
Proverbs 3:12 says – “For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.” As I think about it, Dad must have really delighted in me! But I do also know that he did it out of his love for me. He wanted me to be the person that would follow the Lord.
Proverbs 15:5 says – “A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.” It took me a while before I would listen to my Dad, but he remained true in his love for me and stayed the course.
Dad was a father that loved his children and did what was needed to ensure that we did what we should. I’m not sure I ever got everything right, but Dad stayed true to his faith and continued to direct us in the path we needed to walk. My Dad’s discipline showed that he was truly a good father. God’s does as well.
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, there IS something about that name!!
Christ only, always,
Bro. Paul
Brother Paul Nachtigall is the preacher at Highland Baptist Church. He can be reached at bropaul@centramedia.net.
