Fathers and mothers
by David Cross
There is no gender ambiguity in the Godhead. God clearly requires Himself to be understood in the triune nature of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father-Son-Bride teaching of the gospel is foundational to God’s plan of restoring a covenant relationship with His children. In His design of a physical universe He chose to create human beings in the form of male or female; He devised and He knows the different attributes of men and women, fathers and mothers, who together are created to show the character of God.
Hebrews 12:9… Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?
Isaiah 49:15… Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.”
An earthly father has the primary role of being God’s means of establishing order, protection and affirmation in a family. A mother has a primary role of being His means of providing unconditional love and nurture in the family. These are, of course, shared responsibilities but they are strengthened by the different giftings that God has conferred on men and women.
Sadly, this is a very dysfunctional world because of the corporate sin of humankind and it is very far from the ideal of God’s order. But, praise God, Jesus came to redeem, to restore and to repair the damage caused in broken families. God can and does make up for the deficiencies of fathers and mothers.
Psalm 27:10… For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up.
Prayer: Father God, help us to see clearly Your design and purposes for fathers and mothers, and to glorify You in our desire for restoring Your order in families, through the redemption and healing that comes by the death of Jesus on the Cross. Amen.
David Cross David is part of the Executive Leadership of Ellel Ministries, with particular responsibility for the Ellel centres in Western Europe. He is married to Denise and they have three grown up children and eight grandchildren. David has been a civil engineer and ski-touring instructor in the Highlands of Scotland. He is passionate about the teaching and practice of the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and has written several books: Soul Ties, Trapped by Control, God’s Covering, The Dangers of Alternative Ways to Healing(co-authored with John Berry), an A to Z Guide to the Healing Ministry, What`s Wrong with Human Rights? and, most recently, God`s Way out of Depression. You can follow a daily thought from David on Twitter: @dmcross62
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