Show me the father
SHOW ME THE FATHER, a Report by Justin Anderson
Today is September 22nd… 3 days before my birthday. I was asked to go, and watch a documentary at the theatre called “Show me the Father.” This is what I got out of the movie and about what spoke to me:
My identity is supposed to impact my behavior. That is so deep to me. It's almost like a catch 22 because if my behavior doesn’t match my identity, then how will anyone, including myself, know what my identity is? I feel like once you truly step INTO your identity, the behavior will follow. I guess a sign that you’re not truly in your identity is when your behavior is all out of order and not pleasing to God.
God has such a miraculous way of doing things, and He is always making the best move for us. Whether we know it or not, should not dictate our faith, trust, or love towards Him. Most would say, “easier said than done,” in a humorous kind of way... But NO, TRUTHFULLY, YOU MUST TRUST IN HIM AND HIS TIMING! I MUST!
Deuteronomy 28:2 says, ”And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.” I feel like we all have a conscience wired into us so we can decipher what God is telling us... Not only that, but the Scripture tells us what He said, and says. The willingness to seek him determines our closeness to him. Thank the Lord that He is who He is, and doesn’t give up on us.
IDENTITY IS THE KEY FOR A SPIRITUAL LIFE… How can I be who I’m supposed to be if I’m too busy being someone else?
A father... now this is where it gets interesting. We didn't invent fatherhood, GOD did! He genuinely loves us; like a father is supposed to love. That being said, I look internally and I feel, see, and recognize the love that I have for my daughter. God feels that way about me?? And even more so?? My dad was an alcoholic, and was never there, and he drank himself to death. I feel that my dad didn’t pass on the identity of a real man to me. So my mom raised me, and I had four different step dads growing up. I often treat that like it's no biggie, like “I’ll be alright.” And to a certain degree, I am alright. But that absence manifested itself into approval seeking from the wrong people. And that led me to do what THEY were doing in order to be accepted.
Being a father, I know now that I have a responsibility to Mackenzie to pass down the things that GOD has taught me, and NOT the things my father taught me. If I have learned anything since I have found Jesus, it’s that anything is possible… period. I sometimes want to find the magnificent words that will impart exactly what it is that I want her to learn. I know that when Jesus is working through me… it’s not me, it’s JESUS.
Jesus loves, and He will not lead us astray… TRUST.
God created fatherhood as an introduction to who He is. Father can mean the source… It can also mean the leader… A few other meanings of a father are protector, teacher, helper, an encourager, or a friend… and a provider. I pray that I’m able to portray and embody these things in my walk as an earthly father. It’s not someone else's responsibility to carry what I have been given.
I love my daughter, and I know this to be true. Through mistakes and lessons, I feel like GOD has given me the ability to be all these representations of a father. Not just to my child, either. But, also to those around me. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD… Just think who you can lead out of the darkness.
Amen.