Paton later wrote an autobiography in which he identified his main earthly reason for his faithfulness and courage in his missionary efforts: his father, James Paton.  He wrote of his father: “He walked with God, why may not I?”

Paton told the story of when he departed from home to go to seminary and then on to be a missionary overseas:

My dear father walked with me the first six miles of the way. His counsel and tears and heavenly conversation on that parting journey are fresh in my heart as if it had been but yesterday… He grasped my hand firmly for a minute in silence, and then solemnly said: "God bless you, my son! Your father's God prosper you, and keep you from all evil!" Unable to say more, his lips kept moving in silent prayer; in tears we embraced, and parted. I ran off as fast as I could; and, when about to turn a corner in the road where he would lose sight of me, I looked back and saw him still standing with head uncovered where I had left him gazing after me. Waving my hat in adieu, I was round the corner and out of sight in an instant... Rising up cautiously, I climbed the dyke to see if he yet stood where I had left him; and just at that moment I caught a glimpse of him climbing the dyke and looking out for me! He did not see me, and after he had gazed eagerly in my direction for a while he got down, set his face towards home, and began to return, his head still uncovered, and his heart, I felt sure, still rising in prayers for me. I watched through blinding tears, till his form faded from my gaze; and then, hastening on my way, vowed deeply and oft, by the help of God, to live and act so as never to grieve or dishonour such a father and mother as He had given me… It is no pharisaism, but deep gratitude, which makes me here testify that the memory of that scene not only helped to keep me pure from the prevailing sins, but also stimulated me in all my studies, that I might not fall short of his hopes, and in all my Christian duties, that I might faithfully follow his shining example.

My plea with you is to obey the Father to become His child and live as His child.  The supreme motivation should be like that of John Paton for his father: We should desire to obey God because of Who He is and what He has done for us.

God is the creator and sustainer of the Universe, but He wants us to know Him as Father.  He gave His one and only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we can be reconciled to Him and be born again into His family (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 3:26-27).

God will forgive, give eternal life, and add to His family those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  Then, because of Who He is and what He has done for us, we should live out our days in grateful obedience to His will (John 14:15).  As we do so, He will continue to cleanse us from sin and prepare us for an eternal home with Him (1 John 1:7-9; 1 Peter 1:3-5).