"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ]. God is our merciful Father [the Father of compassions] and the source [the God] of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles [tribulations] so that we can comfort others" (1 Cor. 1:3-4).

I have been thinking a lot about "fathers and mothers after God's own heart". What are they like? It seems the above scripture gives us the answer. First and foremost they are merciful and compassionate. They father and mother their children as God fathered Jesus, with unconditional love.

"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. In this way love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment because in this world we are like Jesus" (1 John 4:16-17). That is, we are loved as Jesus was loved by the Father: unconditionally. He said to him at his baptism, based purely on their relationship as he was yet to begin his ministry, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" (Lk. 3:22). Mothers and fathers should say this to each of their children.

Secondly they comfort their children. The Greek word is "paraklēseōs" which means "a calling to one's side" to give aid, to help, to exhort, to console, to comfort, to encourage, and to alleviate grief. It is used of Simeon who was "waiting for the 'consolation' of Israel" that is, waiting for the coming Messiah (Lk. 2:25). The related word "Paraklēton" is used to describe both Jesus and the Holy Spirit in John 14:16 regarding their "capability and adaptability for giving aid" (Vine). It is also used for a counsel for the defence, one who pleads another's cause, an advocate and an intercessor. Jesus is doing this for us in the here and now! What a great picture of godly parenting! And this is the way God parents all of his children. That is why we worship Him with the words: "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ".