The Word
Sunday Bulletin – 16 June 2024
Reverend Wilfred Lim | Jun 16, 2024
“So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’” Thus Job did regularly (Job 1:5).
A blessed Father’s Day to all the fathers!
Job was a man with a glowing testimony from God Himself – blameless, upright, feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1). He was also a man who took the calling of a father seriously.
He had a big family of seven sons and three daughters and they frequently threw feasts and invited each other. Job the father rose up early and meticulously offered burnt offerings on their behalf. He interceded for each of them so that they would not sin against God in their heart. He prayed for the children so as to ensure they would have the right standing with God. This he did, regularly and faithfully. Here is a father, who presented his family to God and took this calling seriously.
If there is any time for fathers to rise up and intercede regularly for their children like Job, it is now. Families are under attack; the breaking down of marriages and the rebellion seen in children today are very clear signs of the darkness that was foretold – “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people” (Isaiah 60:2a).
Fellow fathers, the time is now. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Some fathers have been immobilised by the devil because of their past failures. Devil’s arrows of guilt and condemnation persuaded them that they have lost their authority and position as a father. Arise fathers, we should run back to the Heavenly Father and not run away from the call. If we have failed our children, spouse or family in the past, let us come boldly. Repent thoroughly before Him and obtain mercy from Him who is merciful. He will pardon because He delights in mercy. He will have compassion on us and He will not remember all our failures! “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19).
Yet, there are also fathers who feel that they are unable to instruct their children and head their household, let us also come boldly. Let us surrender our weaknesses to Him and find grace from Him who gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). “My grace is sufficient for you.” The Lord who calls us into this role is faithful to empower us to fulfil it. We will certainly find grace to help in time of need.
May all of us fathers take up this mantle seriously and present our children before God regularly as Job did.
Shalom,
Rev. Wilfred Lim