Do we honor our Father, God? The two most universal errors in the proclaiming of the “gospel” by the various sects and denominations of traditional Christianity today are:

1) They ignore God the Father.

2) They proclaim a false gospel in which God the Father is mostly ignored.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news that He brought as a messenger from God the Father to mankind.

Jesus said plainly, “I speak that which I have seen with my Father … for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me” (John 8:38, 42). “[T]he words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10).

In the days after Herbert W. Armstrong died, God’s Church began to proclaim the “centrality of Christ.” The end result of that direction is very evident (Malachi 1:6). Satan has led spiritual Israel away from the Father of the God Family. But he has also led physical Israel away from the father and into a society of fatherlessness.

Over the past 200 years, fatherhood has partially or completely lost each of its traditional roles: irreplaceable caregiver, moral educator, head of the family, family breadwinner. The result is that fatherhood as a social role has been radically diminished.

Being male is one thing. Being a good father is another. Thankfully, in God’s one true Church, we have the ultimate father role model: God the Father. Here are some qualities of God as our loving Father we should desire as physical fathers.

1. Our Father is love.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 16:27 states, “For the Father himself loveth you ….” Many other scriptures emphasize our Father’s love. It should always be a father’s aim to be a father of love toward his family.

2. Our Father always tells the truth.

Titus 1:2 says God cannot lie. Hebrews 6:18 says it is “impossible for God to lie.” The Ninth Commandment forbids lying. Are we as fathers always totally truthful? Our children should look to us as fathers they can completely believe.

3. Our Father is faithful.

We can rely on God. We can rely on Him to fulfill His promises. If God promises something, He will do it! Romans 4:21 says, “And being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (New King James Version). How good is our word? It must be as our heavenly Father’s in every way. “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24; nkjv).

4. Our Father cares for us.

To care for means to love or to like, to take charge of, to look after, to provide for, to pay close attention to, to be watchful. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). Psalm 145:14 says, “The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.”

5. Our Father wants us to communicate with Him.

Our Father is willing to listen. Are we fathers willing to listen? “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry” (Psalm 34:15). “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them” (Psalm 145:18-19). “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14).

6. Our Father is compassionate.

Our Father cares about our sufferings and troubles, and He has the urge to help. Notice the following verses: Psalm 78:38; 86:15; 103:13; 111:4; 147:3. This is a quality we all must exercise in our families as fathers.

7. Our Father is forgiving.

Notice Numbers 14:18: “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression ….” Also see Psalm 86:5 and Mark 11:25-26.

8. Our Father is a comforter.

God comforts. He soothes distress and sorrow. He eases misery and grief (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

9. Our Father guides, leads and instructs.

A father has such an important role in the family. Our families need loving fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Some of us have never had a real father figure. Many of us have never had a relationship with our physical fathers. Yet we have the perfect role model to study, the perfect example to follow. See Psalm 25:4-5.

Take the time to reflect on this. We all need to be more like our Father in heaven. Think on these things.