Like Father, Like Son

Chad is in a two week class at Truett Seminary, as he fulfills requirements toward the Doctor of Ministry degree.   In one of the class discussions, on family, he stated that he only had one memory of his PaPa, Larry’s dad.  He and Brad had just turned two the month before Mr. Bertrand died.  Chad shared that he remembered sitting on the floor in front of PaPa’s recliner while his grandfather watched him play.  At that point, the professor said, “Well, let me tell you about your PaPa.”  You see, Dr. Creech had been the Youth Minister at Larry’s home church and had known Larry’s parents.  He told Chad about looking forward to hearing Mr. Bertrand pray.  (He spoke with a thick French accent.  It took him a while because he prayed in French and then translated into English when he spoke the prayer.)  Dr. Creech remembered that during his prayers he would always pray, "Lord, bless our children wherever they may be."  He also said that Mr. Bertrand’s encouragement and support made it easy for a young minister to work in a church.

Although we have told the boys stories about Larry’s dad and shown them pictures through the years, what a priceless gift it was to have Dr. Creech share stories that made an impression on his life more than 30 years ago.  Even though Larry does not speak with a Cajun French accent when he prays, he is just like his dad when it comes to having a servant’s heart, integrity, a strong work ethic, and a love for the Lord, His people, and His Word.  In a way, Scott, Brad, and Chad do know PaPa because they know his son and the son is very much like his father.

In John 8 and 14, Jesus encourages his disciples, followers, and us when he says that when we know Him, we know His Father.

John 8:19

¹⁹ Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

John 14:6-11

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

 ⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.