A Child's Role in the Father's Life

Last weekend my wife and I saw a funny and inspiring movie.  The movie was about a chef who faced humiliation and eventually lost his job.  He was challenged with having to obey a nearsighted boss rather than follow his conscience and intuition.  It was also about this same chef being in a broken relationship with his son and not knowing how to repair it.  The movie also expressed a story of triumph and showcased how people are intertwined... and showed how by allowing others into your life and letting them help you, brighter roads come about. 

I won't tell you the name of the movie, but in due time you'll figure out which one it is.  It does have some "French" language so you've been warned.  I did find the message in the movie quite moving and encouraging overall despite the language.

In the movie, the dad / chef is reluctant to share time with his son outside the mandatory minimum he can fit into his busy schedule.  There is a moment where the son and father bond in performing an activity together... and this is a key and insightful moment.  The moviegoer realizes the son wants nothing more than to simply 'be' with his dad and 'work' with him in any way possible; just being in his father's presence is the son's most desirable thing.  The latter part of the movie builds upon this ever-growing relationship and is the means to the dad's eventual success and how a loving relationship is built with his son.  Yes, it's a fiction and written to produce a happy ending like most mainstream American-made films... yet it speaks of faith, hope and love.

Reading the following passage prior to writing this blog brought great clarity to what I saw in that movie's message and brought every day reality into full view.... and vice versa:

"But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel."  - Philippians 2:22

Timothy wasn't Paul's real son in terms of being a blood relative, but the relationship built between them was one based on a desire not to please each other, but to please the desire's of the Father.  The obedience Paul exuded acted perhaps like a magnet drawing others into obedience to the Father's Way.  And much like in that movie I saw, the dad experienced more joy and fulfillment by letting his son step further into his life.  Subsequently, the son grew to love his dad the more he followed his dad's instructions in performing tasks to help the dad's work.  I can attest that much the same thing happens when any individual lets the Father's Way into their lives!  As the son was drawn into his father's world and workplace the son's earlier reluctance at obeying his father's wishes now turned into absolute obedience with a determined focus which led to their mutual edification.  Again, very much the same thing happens the further one steps out on faith in obeying the precepts found in the sermon on the mount and the further principles of being a disciple of Yeshua the Christ; in doing so God is glorified and you the son / daughter are honored, blessed and fashioned more into the example of Christ. 

You begin to grow in your knowledge of Christ by performing the actions of Christ.

With this in mind, read this:

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset of Christ Yeshua:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."  - Philippians 2:3-7


In the movie, the son was ecstatic to be cooking alongside his chef dad and proud to be relied upon to get the job done.  He was most comfortable and 'at home' when working alongside his dad and following his dad's specific direction in cooking food. In turn, his dad was very proud to see his son learn the trade and become a valuable part of the team effort in producing good tasting food.  I think too God is most proud when He sees His faithful working diligently for others, considering others above themselves as Christ exemplified in thought, word and action. 

To you who have ever helped someone, whether big or small, not for 'points' or to boast about it later, but simply to do what you knew deep down inside to be right and that God alone would be your applauding audience; you too know the joy one feels when helping out a fellow brother / sister not for a return or even a thank you, but because it is the Way in which the Father calls you to be! 

Every day is Father's day when considering your role as His child.