St. Malo’s Retreat Center near the base of Longs Peak
I know a little bit about foundations. I studied soil science and sedimentology in my pursuit of a degree in Geology. Later, I worked for a forensic engineering firm, and learned about drainage swales, weatherproofing, and concrete and piers that support foundations that keep them from shifting. It is best to do it right the first time rather than having to re-dig and retrofit to shore things up. I know of friends that have spent more than $50K due to a shifting foundation where the house was actually slipping down the hill. It wasn’t their fault, and the former owner did not disclose the problem. Have you ever had to consistently “deal with” a person who erected a poor foundation in life, maybe acting as “a victim” or not taking responsibility for poor choices in their life? It can be very draining.
We just celebrated Father’s Day. When I worked for “Man in the Mirror” (ministry), my fellow Area Directors would often post a graphic indicating that when a Father is a believer, it is five times more likely that his children would follow after Christ than a family whose Mother alone had a relationship with Christ. I was never able to find the study that purported this claim, yet it is abundantly clear the remarkable influence a Godly Father can have on their family. For further reading, click here: The Limitless Influence of a Father – Bible Church International. In childhood, I could clearly see that I had to be reparented to know the influence of Godly Fathers and to know God as my true Father. Since I pursued this early in life, this good decision saved me a lot of grief.
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” (See, Proverbs 3:11 and Job 5:17 for cross reference.)
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant* at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:5-11
* Literal Greek [“All discipline for the moment seems not to be pleasant but sorrowful, (οὐ δοκεῖ χαρᾶς εἶναι ἀλλὰ λύπης. )]”
Thank God for the discipline we have received under our covenant relationship with Him. If we were not His sons and daughters, we would not have received it. In Ephesians 4:14, Paul states that “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by crafting in deceitful scheming;” I’m sure you have known someone who has been led astray. So sad! However, our Father, who knows everything about us provides us more than a compass, He offers Himself, and He lives in us through the Holy Spirit.
I remember the flash cards filled with scriptures that I would review on the way to class at the natural science building on campus. I still remember the scriptures I memorized, some word for word. I thank God for the discipline I exercised as I leaned into God during this time. He is able to lead me easier since he has written His law upon my heart.
…. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days, ‘declares the Lord’; I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they [y’all **] shall be my people.” Hebrews 8:8-10
** “All y’all” is a phrase used in some Southern American dialects as a more emphatic or inclusive version of “y’all,” which is a contraction of “you all”. While “y’all” can sometimes refer to a subset of a group, “all y’all” explicitly includes everyone being addressed. It emphasizes the totality of the group.
Accept the Fatherhood of God, for He knows what is best for us. Also, fathers, lay a Godly mantle upon your children. We are co-creators with God, our Father.
by John Colvin
