by Justin Morton

Let me begin by saying “Happy Father’s Day!” to all the dads here at Walter Hill.  I hope today is a special day for you whether your children are grown or still at home.  Whether you are able to spend time with your children or not, I hope you know how much your family loves and cherishes you and appreciates everything you do to help provide for them.

I once read, “A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow.”  The older I get the more that quote rings true in my own life.  I have a great dad.  He worked hard to provide for the physical needs of our family.  He spent countless hours teaching me how to play ball and coaching my teams.  My dad demonstrated what love and patience looks like, even when it wasn’t always easy.  But of all the wonderful things my dad did for me over the course of my life, the most important was that he taught me about Jesus and the importance of following Him.  While I know not everyone had or has a father like that, I am sure many of you can relate to such sentiments when it comes to your own father.

Dads are special.  And while we celebrate fathers on this special day, sometimes we are guilty of not quite celebrating our dads the same way we celebrate our moms.  So today, let’s make sure we celebrate the fathers in our lives who are not only helping provide for our day to day needs, but also who hopefully are training and leading us and our children to follow after Jesus.

Speaking of fathers, Paul wrote, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).  Dads, there are many wonderful things we can do for our children that they will remember throughout their lives: spending time with them, laughing with them, giving them our undivided attention and encouraging and supporting them in the pursuit of their passions.  But the most important thing will always be to train and instruct them in the way of the Lord.

If you are a dad, I hope you take the responsibility God has given you seriously.  You could never be given a greater responsibility.  Spend time with your children teaching them and showing them the importance of living lives of service to God.  This time and energy will be the greatest investment you will ever make.  After all, it’s an eternal investment for you and your children. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).    

06/15/2025

“Father I Adore You”

Scripture Reading: Psalm 145:1-3