Everyone Needs a Godfather

Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED blog post, the only blog that notices you’ve gained weight, but pretends to be oblivious.

“The Godfather” is hailed by movie critics as one of the best films ever made. Even though it released in the early 1970s, it still holds up today as a masterful piece of art.

Last year, I watched an interview where Al Pacino (the actor who played Michael Corleone in the film) made this statement.

“It’s everyone’s dream to have a father – a godfather – to help you with your issues.”

His remark stuck with me.

In the film, the godfather (played by Marlon Brando) took care of the people he loved – whether friends or family.

He had their backs.

Of course, his methods involved violence and even murder, but the point is, those who had a relationship with the godfather didn’t have to worry about anything. Especially other mortals who were mistreating, harassing, or making their lives a living hell.

Over the past month, I’ve had friends – strong Christians who love Jesus and desire to please Him – go through the following nightmares.

• They were being slandered and lied about with outrageous accusations, none of which were true. Regrettably, the horrible things being said about them were leveled from professing Christians. And other Christians benightedly believed what the slanderers were saying, without going to my friends directly to hear their response. A clear violation of love as taught by Jesus in Matthew 7:12.

See Don’t Believe Everything You Hear

• They have been the victims of vicious gossip and hearsay, something that no Christian should ever entertain. Yet – unfortunately – many do. They gladly permit their ears to serve as garbage cans.

See Have You Heard? (The Most Ignored Sin)

• They have lost loved ones in a tragedy, usually the result of a health complication. And they are having great trouble handling the grief.

See A Grief Observed

• They have been fired – or mistreated – at their jobs. Usually over jealousies from other employers. Or one of their important relationships is currently in breakdown.

See Hang On, Let Go

These are just some of the horrific things my friends have had to endure in recent days.

Turns out I’m not the only who has made this observation. One of my Facebook friends posted this on his wall Tuesday:

“There has been a lot of heavy stuff happening lately with several different people that I love deeply— death, suffering, pain, broken relationships, hard stuff.”

Perhaps you can identify with one of the above trials. Or maybe you’ve been weathering something similar.

Either way, my encouragement to you is that the idea of having a godfather is not a dream for you or me.

We have the ultimate Godfather.

The God of the universe is our daddy.

And just as any good earthly father will intervene if one of his children is being bullied, harassed, distressed, or harmed, your heavenly Father will do the same for us.

So before you vent to your friends about what you’re going through, vent to your God-Father.

And trust His capable hands to deal with the situation as He wishes.

Certainly, enlist your friends to join you in praying. And there may be times when He will lead you to request their help.

But if they do, our God-Father is simply using them as tools to answer your prayer.

Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me.
Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.

Behold, I have created the blacksmith
Who blows the coals in the fire,
Who brings forth an instrument for his work;
And I have created the spoiler to destroy.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.

~ Isaiah 54:15-17

Until next Thursday,

fv

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