Devotions: Fatherly Compassion

Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.

Psalm 103:13-14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

When one thinks of “the best” father, one envisions Andy Griffith, Charles Ingalls or Mike Brady; men who were manly yet loving, disciplining yet compassionate. Sadly, many fathers are not like that, and this analogy may be a hard comparison to make. That is why we cannot base our view of God as heavenly Father on our relationship with our own fathers, only taking the positive into comparison. To counter issues our own dads have in this analogy, we need to look for the truth of who God is. This verse is one of those examples which give us a glimpse of His fatherly tendencies. God is compassionate to the fullest extent of the word just as a father should be. Because He has the compassion of a father, it infers an intimacy and love not found in other relationships. The reason for God’s compassion is clear: He made us, He knows that we are frail and our time is fleeting. He wants to make the most of every opportunity we have together before it is too late. Good earthly fathers are aware of this, too. Regardless of your relationship with your dad, seek to embrace the truth of God as your Father, the best there ever could be. Remember that even when He disciplines your sin, He has just as much compassion waiting for you.