Initiate goodness and faithfulness

Father’s Day is not a holiday for us all. Some never had a father or a good father. For some, this is a hard day. It can be hard to be a good father when yours wasn’t. I’d like to offer you a good and faithful Father, whatever your circumstances might be.

Let’s begin with some definitions. “Goodness” translates agathosune in Greek, which means “goodness in action.” “Faithfulness” translates pistis, which means “faith” in relation to God and faithfulness in relation to people.

Consistent and honorable; a person of absolute integrity and trustworthiness.

Now, do these words describe God as a Father?

Jesus was the first Jewish rabbi ever to teach us to address God as “our Father” (Matthew 6:9) What kind of a Father is he? Hundreds of times the Scriptures call God “good.” (Nehemiah 9:35) And the Bible claims that he is a “faithful” Father as well. For example, 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

Does God model initiatory goodness with us? “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) He took the initiative to find us when we didn’t want to be found.

This was his Son’s mission in life: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

I know that God took the initiative in seeking me. Left to myself, I would likely have never taken the initiative to go to a church or seek out the gospel. God came for me, or I wouldn’t be here today. Nor, for that matter, would you.

Now measure God as Father by our other word—look at his consistent faithfulness with us. But the God of the Bible is consistent. He always keeps his promises.

He promised: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. . . . For I am the Lᴏʀᴅ your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:2–3).

So, God is a good and faithful Father.

Do you want such a Father today?

All you need to do is call upon him.

Place your faith and life in his hands as his child. Ask him to be your Father. He wants this more than God wants anything else in all his creation. That’s why he made sure you’re here today, to draw closer to him as your Father.