As we close out for now on our subject, we share today a story reflecting what should be the reaction of every child, born of a father.

THANK YOU, DAD—WRITTEN BY MIKE WOODARD
 
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”—JOHN 8:31-32
 
“Thank you, Dad. Our lives are so different.”

This was my daughter’s comment after I shared some very tragic news about a murder/suicide that involved a relative. My daughter’s response of gratitude surprised me. Her gratitude was because she had identified the contrast between her life and the life of this cousin. She attributed this to some decisions I had made which resulted in a very different path for our family.

The truth I had learned was that I needed Jesus. There was a moment that brought this into focus in a fresh way. It was when I had reached a significant milestone and it did not satisfy. I received an award and as I walked out of the ceremony, the thought haunted me, “There must be more to life than this!”

To that point, I had identified as a follower of Christ but did not understand that Christianity was not a self-improvement plan. In the months that followed, I learned that a true disciple of Jesus was someone who daily acknowledged their own inadequacy and embraced Jesus in every area of life. This moment by moment walk with Christ set me free from the ravages of a broken alcoholic family and set me on a daily journey that allowed me to experience the transformational power of God’s Spirit. This truth has changed every aspect of my life, marriage and family.

My daughter understood the results! The means to this result is a daily surrender to the wisdom and goodness of God’s work and power to transform!”

If there was nothing else for which we should be proud of our Father, this story illustrates the greatest reason, except you have not experienced the power of redemption and a transformed life! I have and I am not ashamed to boast of my Father’s ‘almightiness’; the other dimension of Paul’s declaration in Romans 11:33-36, which he rightly ended with ‘All glory to Him forever.’ Isn’t it time we made boasting of our Father and His accomplishment in our lives intentional? Consider again our text:

And as He rode along, the people kept spreading their garments on the road. As He was approaching [the city], at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to rejoice and to praise God [extolling Him exultantly and] loudly for all the mighty miracles and works of power that they had witnessed, crying, Blessed (celebrated with praises) is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven [freedom there from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin] and glory (majesty and splendor) in the highest [heaven]! And some of the Pharisees from the throng said to Jesus, Teacher, reprove Your disciples! He replied, I tell you that if these keep silent, the very stones will cry out. Luke 19:36-40 (AMPC)

Why will you be silent? Recall again our last closing scriptures, Psalm 20:7; Psalm 34:2; Psalm 44:8; Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17 and may the Holy Spirit guide you into action on this. Shalom.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele