In Germany yesterday was a national holiday, "Ascension day," the day ten days prior to Pentecost when Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:1-12).

This day has become a traditional "Father’s day" of sorts, when men get together for a bike ride and unfortunately, in some cases, excessive consumption of alcohol along the way. But "Ascension day" is also a day when some fathers ride their bikes with their wife and children in a genuine family outing.

Jesus said that He came to reveal the Father: "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him" (Matthew 11:27; emphasis added).

Jesus also said that He and our heavenly Father would make their dwelling with us: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23).

If you were to pick a Feast day to honor our heavenly Father, which day would you pick? In other words, a biblical "Father’s day?"

On the day of Pentecost nearly 2000 years ago, 120 disciples of Jesus Christ became the spiritual children of God when the holy spirit was poured out. Later that same day 3000 additional people became the spiritual children of God when they were baptized and received the hold spirit.

The Bible tells us that it is through the spirit of God that we are the children of God: "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:15-16).

After receiving that spirit, we remain God’s children as long as we walk in the spirit: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14).

And if we continue to be led by that spirit, the work that God began in us on that day when He became our spiritual father will be completed when we become spirit: "If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:11).

The next biblical festival is Pentecost, a happy "Father’s day" for our Father in heaven.

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!