{"id":2236,"date":"2023-06-16T07:50:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T22:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waypoints.jp\/english\/?p=2236"},"modified":"2026-09-04T15:03:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T06:03:18","slug":"fathers-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waypoints.jp\/english\/fathers-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Father’s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This month\u2019s manga<\/a><\/strong> is a sci-fi take on one of Jesus\u2019 parables<\/strong><\/a>, a story commonly known as \u201cThe Prodigal Son.\u201d<\/a><\/strong> But the real hero of the story is not the Son -- it\u2019s the Father. Good timing, since Father\u2019s Day<\/strong> is coming soon. This story is an illustration of God as our Heavenly Father.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When you hear God referred to as Father, what kind of picture comes to your mind?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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According to the old Japanese proverb, the four things children fear most are \u201cearthquake, thunder, fire, and father.\u201d<\/strong> If you have not had a good relationship with your father, maybe picturing God as Father is not comforting. Maybe you feared your father, or maybe you never even knew your father. Maybe Father\u2019s Day is not a happy day for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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But when the Bible calls God our Father, it\u2019s a picture of a loving, giving and forgiving Father. A Father who is more loving and good than even the best father on earth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In the Prodigal Son parable, the younger son asks for his inheritance now, instead of waiting until the father dies. In essence he\u2019s treating his father like he\u2019s already dead. But the father gives him what he wants. And even though his son has betrayed him, and even though that son goes on to waste all his money on wild living, the father is waiting with open arms when the son comes crawling\u00a0 home.<\/span><\/p>\n

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That\u2019s what God is like.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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This is most clearly seen in Jesus Christ.\u00a0<\/strong> His life and His teachings give us the most clear picture of what God is really like. And when we believe in Jesus, we can know and experience this Father\u2019s love. No matter how badly we\u2019ve messed up, like the lost son, we\u2019ll find our Heavenly Father waiting with open arms.<\/span><\/p>\n

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So while it\u2019s great to have a good relationship with our earthly fathers, it\u2019s even better if we can know and love our Heavenly Father. <\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Then perhaps Father\u2019s Day<\/strong> will take on a whole new meaning for us.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

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