I love being a father.

If every bit of progress of my children isn’t imprinted on film or memory card, it is in my mind as fresh as the day it happened. Those memories include when each of our three children walked, when they learned to ride a bicycle, and graduated from college. Sure, there have been trials and difficulties but the joys outweigh them all.

Each child has repeatedly assured us of their love for their mother and me. I know their love is genuine because they show it often.

Jesus repeatedly showed his love for his heavenly father by obeying him (John 14:15). He spoke of his father lovingly and encouraged us to love him as well. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us how to please our heavenly father. He told us our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes (Matthew 5:20). And, he taught us how to give and pray in a way that pleased God.

He started by encouraging us to be careful when we give and pray (Matthew 6:1, 5). When we give and pray we are not to behave the same way others do. There are those who give and pray to impress others. Jesus told us his father doesn’t like that. We are not to be like those people (Matthew 6:2, 8).

Jesus wanted us to give showing our true love for him by not creating a scene designed to impress others (Matthew 6:2). When we pray, our requests should be made known without showy pretense as the hypocrites (Matthew 6:5-6). He said do not be like them.

God loves being a father. He gives his children every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). He always gives without giving us a sharp reprimand for how we use his gifts (James 1:5). He wants to be proud of us because he loves us just as any good father loves his children.

What our heavenly father asks is not so difficult. Let’s make him proud of us by being obedient children. We should want to love him because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). Do you love God enough to want to do what he asks?