Everyone has at least one thing in common – we all have a father, a male person who is jointly responsible – with our mother -- for us being born. The similarity ends with biology. Our experiences with our biological fathers can be warm or cold, distant or close. Some of us have close relations with our fathers, some among us have never met our fathers. Some of us know our fathers very well while others just barely. Some are alive, some are deceased – leaving precious or painful memories. Loving or antagonistic, close or aloof, nurtured or abandoned, protected or abused. Such complicated relationships.

Some among us have fathers who are not related by blood: stepfathers, authority figures from work, school, scouts, sports, the neighborhood, or church. Role models who teach by example what it means to grow from childhood to adulthood. They are our real fathers. These relationships help to determine the kind of parent we will be. Psychologists say that the most reliable way to determine what type of man a boy will become is determined by the relationship they have with the closest male in their lives. Boys will either grow up to be similar to their fathers, or just the opposite. As you reflect on your relationship with your father, or father figure, let us turn our attention to the one in whom we all worship: the first person of the Trinity, God our Creator, Our Father.

          In the eighth chapter in the Letter to the Romans, Paul is teaching the Roman Christians about the Holy Spirit. He tells them that all who allow the Holy Spirit to lead their lives are God’s children. Youth and adults, are you offended by the scripture calling you a child? The relationship between a child and parent is one of loving authority. The parent is responsible for taking care of the child—setting boundaries, establishing rules, providing the basic of life necessities, etc. The child is taught to trust and obey the parent. Throughout the growing process, parents are held legally and morally accountable for preparing the child to enter the world as a productive member of society.

The scripture says those who are led by the Holy Spirit are God’s children. If we are God’s children, that makes Jesus our brother. But when I think of Jesus and his many names and roles, I don’t really think of Jesus as my brother. Do you? Savior, Redeemer, Lord, son of God, second person of the Trinity And yet when I pray, as Jesus taught his disciples, we begin with “Our” Father. Jesus told us to say “Our” Father. If would have been an altogether different prayer if Jesus had instructed: When you pray say “My” Father, because God is my father, not yours. No, Jesus included us in the family. God is Our Father. That makes Jesus “our” brother. I encourage you to think about it, this week: Jesus our brother. Verse 15 says when we’re in trouble and call out to God, that is our deeply troubled spirit acknowledging that God is indeed our Dad. And the most amazing thing is the Holy Spirit concurs. The Spirit agrees with our hurting, needy selves that we need our Dad to come with deliverance. The Holy Spirit is able to intervene and express it in ways that we can’t. Just as children who get into trouble and run home to their earthly parents, the children of God have a right to cry to their heavenly father and expect an answer, expect help.

Here’s a summary of our relationship with God: Creator God sent his only begotten son from heaven to earth to save us because we can’t save ourselves. We have Jesus the perfect lamb, as the only sacrifice acceptable to God to pay for our sins, the breaking God’s laws. Jesus loved us so much until he wanted to save us – and Jesus loved his father so much he wanted to please him. So his loving, obedient son left his kingdom, became a human being, like us. Was crucified, dead and buried, for us. Three days later Father God raised him from the grave, for us. Brought him back to heaven and sent his Holy Spirit to live in us until it’s time for Jesus to come back to get us and take us home to meet “OUR” father. Jesus will take us to our true home and usher us into the presence of God. Stop now, and imagine yourself standing before God on Judgment Day, and there sits Jesus next to him saying, “Here he is, Dad, my brother. Here she is, Dad, my sister.” “They accepted me. They confessed and repented of their sins. They have been worshiping you and studying your Word. They have been telling others the good news. Because they have accepted me, they are your adopted children. They are your legitimate heirs. Fulfill your promise. Grant them their inheritance, their portion of your kingdom. Out of your extravagant generosity give them eternal life. They didn’t earn it – but it’s theirs because they followed me to you. They put up with ridicule, rudeness and rebellion. They fought their shyness to tell people about me. Since they loved me enough to share in my suffering, give them your glory.”

Everyone listening today, know this. It doesn’t matter what type of relationship you have with your earthly father -- great, good, lukewarm, poor, terrible or non-existent. All of us can have a spiritual relationship with God. A hymn says, “O Come to the Father, through Jesus the Son.” He’s waiting, with open arms, to adopt you. Jesus wants as many sisters and brothers as possible. There’s room in heaven for everyone. In God’s kingdom there are no orphans. To those who believe in Jesus he gives power to become sons and daughters. So we are able to pray, “OUR” Father. Amen.