2 Corinthians 6:18: "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty".
During one of my trips on mission assignment to a foreign mission field, my children stayed with my mom for a period of time.
They told her that they wanted to talk to me. She reached out to me on whatsapp telling me the children wanted to hear my voice. After delaying almost all day, I called. At the background, the children were eager to talk to me likewise my mom.
I perceived they were dragging the phone with her because they wanted to talk to me first before her. They were excited I called. I heard my mom say, "He is your daddy but he is my son". That struck a chord in me.
I picked two major lessons from that scenario. First, no matter how grown a child is, he remains "my son" or "my daughter" to his parents even at 100 years of age. Let me relate this story to our relationship with God.
God is our father and we are his sons. No matter the title people call us here on earth, we stand before him as sons not as daddies. As a preacher, you're only a 'papa' or 'daddy' on earth to your members. In God's sight, you are a son. We all stand equal as sons before God.
Second, you can't be too great or big for fellowship with your heavenly father. In fact, God longs to fellowship with us more than we desire to fellowship with him. In that story, my mom longed to speak with me likewise my children.
In our fellowship culture, God comes first before others. There are preachers who prioritise praying and counseling church members than staying alone with the person to whom they stand as son. Their voices are heard by men who call them "daddy" or "papa" but their father hasn't heard from them in a while.
It is an anomaly to be busy with men either as a minister, business man or parent and not be available for fellowship with God. Do not let what people call you get your attention and drag you away from God.
Pay attention to the one who calls you 'My son'. From him, you'll receive abundance of supply for those who call you 'daddy'.
Father, I receive the grace to spend quality time with you in Jesus name. Amen