The World’s Most Important Father: Almighty God!

15 Jun 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 27:10.         When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up (take care of me).

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Well, a Happy Father’s Day to all you Fathers out there, be you good, bad or indifferent! I certainly hope that I am numbered amongst the good ones, but who knows, everyone has their own opinions however, the only one that really counts is the Lord’s. (smile) And what is Father’s Day supposed to mean? This commentary explains: ‘It’s a heartfelt occasion to honour the strength, LOVE, and guidance of fathers and father figures. Whether it is through a thoughtful message, a warm wish, or an inspiring quote, this day is perfect for showing appreciation and gratitude to the men who raised us.’

And so it ought to be, for remember what God said in the Ten Commandments: ‘Honour thy father and mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.’ (Ex. 20:12) Yes friends, it is the only commandment with a promise: honour your mother and father and you’ll live long. However, as it is with mothers, our fathers might be no good or not around, but it’s still our children’s duty to honour them in the Lord’s name.

And on this memorable Father’s Day of 2025, we’ll sing a most appropriate and popular Christian hymn penned by an American Presbyterian minister from New York, Maltbie Davenport Babcock, (b. Syracuse, NY, 1858; d. Naples, Italy, 1901), which reminds us of our most important Father, our heavenly Father. The song is aptly titled  “This is My Father’s World”, but was apparently born as a poem from a time when Babcock resided in Lockport, and would take strolls along the Niagara Escarpment to savour the scenic view of upstate New York and Lake Ontario, telling his wife he was “going out to see the Father’s world”.

And it seems that soon after Babcock’s death in 1901, his wife released a collection of his poems entitled Thoughts for Every-Day Living that contained the poem “My Father’s World.” The original poem was composed in 16 four-line stanzas, each beginning with “This is my Father’s world.” One of Babcock’s friends, Franklin Shepherd (1852-1930) adapted an English folk song inserting portions of Babcock’s text into three, eight-line stanzas. The hymn in this form first appeared in the composer’s hymnal Alleluia, a Presbyterian Sunday school book published in 1915. The central theme of the song is joy and appreciation for the beauty of our natural world.

And now that we know the story behind the song, let’s offer up our sacrifices of praise in a sweet, soulful, scintillating mid-tempo version, letting the LOVE for our Father and the beauty of His awesome creation, Mother Nature,  to pour out in all sincerity from our hearts. Singing: ‘This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas– His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world: The birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker’s praise. This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair; In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere. This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad! I have a Father, a glorious father, He reigns in power and in LOVE, We have a Father, our glorious Father, creator, King and God. This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: Yes…This is my Father’s world…’

And is that ever so true my people! This is indeed God’s world as Bruh David so rightly and wisely declares in Psalm 24: ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods (rivers).’ (Ps. 24:1-2) And the Lord is not only the Creator of the universe, but as the song says ‘O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.’

That’s for sure! And although it may seem that Satan and his evil cronies are in control right now, that’s only a figment of the imagination, for when the Lord is ready, He will bring everyone to the judgement seat and the evildoers will perish, while the righteous will have eternal life. So don’t go believing the lies and deceptions that the evildoers are spreading. Christians might not be doing their best to spread the gospel, but God is certainly in control of the universe He created, and if you look around, you will see many signs and wonders of His hands still being on the wheel.  

We see God in all of His wonderful creations, like a beautiful sunrise or sunset, in the birds and the bees, the lilies of the field, the rustling grass, a newborn baby, the stillness of the night, even in the stormy seas and mighty winds, we see our God! And to top it all, He speaks to us everywhere! There’s no one place we must go to hear His still, quiet voice, that’s because He dwells within us in the form of His Holy Spirit, our Guide, Helper and Comforter.

That’s why Psalm 148 could boldly and confidently proclaim: ‘Praise ye the Lord (sing Hallelujah). Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise ye him, all ye stars of light. Praise ye him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished (established) them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Praise ye the Lord from the earth, ye dragons (sea creatures), and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent (exalted); his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn (strength, dominion) of his people, the praise of all his saints; even the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord (sing Hallelujah).’ (Ps. 148: 1-14)

And I like how the scholars categorize this psalm. ‘Since nothing in heaven above or on earth below is left out in this praise psalm, it may be appropriately designated as the psalm of universal praise.’ So, on this day of celebrating fathers, let’s not forget the One in heaven who created us, and still looks after us, for He’s promised to never leave nor forsake us. (Heb. 13:5) And as Bruh David so rightly puts it in Psalm 27: ‘When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up (take care of me). (Ps. 27:10)

Let’s never forget that my fellow believers! Our heavenly Father is the greatest Father ever! Much LOVE!

…our earthly fathers may reject us…but our heavenly Father will NEVER do so…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 June 2019 Exodus 20:12.

16 Jun 2019 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Exodus 20:12.   Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

​HAPPY  FATHER’S  DAY!

Well a Happy Father’s Day to all you fathers out there, be you good, bad or indifferent! (smile) Yes, today is the day we spend celebrating that wonderful and godly gift called Fatherhood. And no, it’s not as big as the day we spend celebrating Motherhood, because the world tends to see Motherhood in a somewhat better light than Fatherhood. Therefore Mother’s Day seems to have a bigger impact on both our psyche and our active involvement than Father’s Day. 

And though fathers’ traditional role of bread-winner and ruler of the roost might have changed some, with more working mothers and more irresponsible and absentee fathers than ever before, they are still an important part of our society. (smile) But more on all of that later, because it’s Sunday and we’re going to the sanctuary to participate in faithful and exultant worship to the GREATEST FATHER there is…our heavenly Father! 

And that’s why our song of praise today is the popular Christian hymn ‘This is My Father’s World,’ written by Maltbie Davenport Babcock around the end of the 19th century. According to the website ‘God Tube’ when Babcock lived in upstate New York, in Lockport, ‘he would take strolls along the Niagara Escarpment to savour the overlook’s scenic view of upstate New York surroundings and Lake Ontario, telling his wife he was “going out to see the Father’s world.” 

The central theme of the hymn is joy and appreciation for the beauty of our natural world.’ So let’s sing it like we really mean it nuh, like we really enjoy the beauty of nature that our heavenly Father has created for our enjoyment and pleasure! Let the enthusiasm, sweet harmony and true exaltation just gush out of us on this Father’s Day. 

Altogether now: ‘This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas– His hand the wonders wrought. This is my Father’s world: The birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker’s praise. 

This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair; In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere. This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad! 

I have a Father, a glorious father, He reigns in power and in LOVE, We have a Father, our glorious Father, Creator, King and God. This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father’s world!’ 

It certainly is my fellow saints in Christ! He made it, and He looks after it! Why do you think that the birds sing their songs of praise, and the morning light and lily white declare His praise eh? And so should we humans, His most wonderful creation! Just listen to these touching words nuh: ‘In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere!’ That’s the gospel truth friends! In every aspect of nature we can view our great heavenly Father…if we would just slow down and take the time to smell the roses! 

And even more important are these immortal words: ‘O let me ne’er forget That though wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!’ That’s for certain sure my people! Therefore why should our hearts be sad eh? ‘The Lord is king. So let the heavens ring! God reigns!’ That’s something we oftimes forget; ‘So let the earth be glad, because we have a Father, a glorious Father who reigns in power and in LOVE!’ Truer words were never spoken friends! 

But what we also have to take into account my brethren is that the Lord delegated a lot of His power here on earth to the earthly Fathers, and consequently they are required to lead us in His sovereign will, and we are also required to show them the respect demanded of that high and godly office. Parents are His earthly representatives. 

And the Lord taught it so important that He made it a part of His rules for godly living; the Ten Commandments: ‘Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.’ As always, our God says it simply and straightforward. Our fathers and mothers are the two most important people in our lives, after Him, of course. And regardless of if they are bad, good, or indifferent, it is our job to honour and revere them. 

And as Bruh Paul says later on to the Ephesians: ‘it is the first commandment with promise.’ (Eph.6:2b). That means it’s the first injunction given that has a promise attached to it; honouring and obeying parents ensures a long and prosperous life. Now, unfortunately, as our society gets less and less godly, the honouring and obeying of parents is also becoming less practiced, and a lot of us are even cursing and smiting them too. 

And the dishonouring and disobeying is especially true of fathers, many of whom, for whatever reason, are never around or don’t take any active part in their children’s lives. Remember friends, parents, especially fathers are supposed to bring up children with the word of God richly ingrained in them, starting from very young. 

So if many fathers aren’t around, or are around and don’t do it, then this exacting and rather important job is either going to fall by the wayside, or the poor mother will be forced to take it on, in addition to her many other rearing duties. That’s a lot for any parent to handle, hence the waywardness and ungodliness of so many of today’s youth. 

Ah friends, as the most important part of our society, the family crumbles, the godly commands also fall by the wayside. But we won’t give up, because that’s not in the Christian vocabulary. Instead, we’ll keep trying to push parents and children to be better, beginning with these warnings from the Lord a long, long time ago, re, honouring parents. He that smites or curses his father or mother shall surely be put to death. (Ex.21:15,17) That just goes to show how important God thought parents were. 

And a couple more admonishments from Bruh Paul: ‘Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right….And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (training) and admonition of the Lord.’ (Eph.6:1,4) Yes friends, children ought to obey their parents when instructed to do anything that’s in God’s will, and fathers need to use their authority wisely, giving them proper spiritual training, as well as teaching them their responsibilities and duties. 

Let’s hope and pray that this Father’s Day will bring some recalcitrant fathers and children to the place where they see and acknowledge God’s Word and His awesome desire for their lives. Have a blessed and happy Father’s Day! Much LOVE!

…fear (revere) every man…his mother…and his father…and keep my Sabbaths…I am the Lord your God… (Lev.19:3)