The Heartbeat of A Godly Father

June 18, 2023  

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4.

 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Colossians 3:21.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1.

Please join me in honoring all men especially those who have embraced the essential role and awesome responsibility of fatherhood. On this day, we also thank fathers and father figures (grandfathers, uncles, and nephews) for the sacrifices they make, in adopting the responsibility of nurturing and raising children, and their devotion to family. No family can fully measure the vast and priceless treasure that comes from the heart of a godly and praying father.

Thank you for being a father with a heart that touches the Heart of God.

Father’s Day is celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June in the United States, in many other countries around the world. The officially recognized date of Father’s Day varies. It is a day set apart to celebrate fatherhood, recognize the influence of fathers in our homes and society, and foster paternal bonds. It is also celebrated to honor and commemorate our fathers and forefathers.

It is believed that Father’s Day was first observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington, through the efforts of Sonora Smart Dodd, a Christian woman and the daughter of American Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart. Sonora’s mother died when she was age 16, and she wanted a day that would commemorate and honor fathers like her own, who had raised her and five other children. Once she began soliciting the idea of an official Father’s Day, she met some opposition and even derision, but she persevered. A bill was introduced in Congress in 1913, and in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson spoke at a Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington, wanting to make it an official holiday, but Congress still resisted. In 1924, Calvin Coolidge became involved, and in 1930 a national committee was formed by various trade groups in an effort to legitimize the holiday. The battle continued, and in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson made a proclamation for the third Sunday of June to be Father’s Day. Finally, it was made an official national holiday when President Nixon signed a similar proclamation in 1972.

While God’s Word is silent about any day being set aside specifically to honor fathers, Genesis 4:20-21 does recognize a special place of honor for men who were leaders or examples of excellence in certain skills, such as Jabal, who was “the father of those who live in tents and raises livestock” and his brother Jubal, who was “the father of all who plays the harp and flute”.   Also, in Genesis chapter 17 when Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, God told him, “I have made you a father of many nations” clearly indicating fatherhood as a place of honor in His eyes. Although the Bible does not mention Father’s Day, we can clearly see that God does recognize the importance of fathers and even gave them special honor throughout history.

Most importantly Genesis 1:28 reminds us that Fatherhood was one of the first jobs God gave men. Immediately after creating Adam and Eve, God commanded them to “be fruitful and multiply” One of His primary purposes for marriage was offspring who would fill the earth with God’s praise and glory. However, providing sperm for conception is merely the beginning of God’s expectation for fathers. Sperm can make a child, but it takes a real man to be a godly father. Some men who want to be good fathers have little understanding of what godly fatherhood looks like.

Before we explore earthly fatherhood, it is crucial to recognize the Fatherhood of God!  The ultimate example of fatherhood is found in our Heavenly Father, God Himself. The Bible frequently refers to God as our Father, revealing His enormous love, care, and compassion for His children. Fathers on earth, are called to reflect and emulate the character of our Heavenly Father, displaying love, kindness, and wisdom in our interactions with our children. 1 John 3:1, says “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

Fatherhood is the best adventure a man can have!

Additionally, we can follow this theme of fatherhood in the very person of God Himself through countless scriptures in the New Testament.  There are many instances that speak of Jesus Christ, the Son, honoring His Father and honoring the will of His Father.  The apostle Paul Ephesians 6:2-3 taught that to honor one’s earthly father is not only a commandment but the first commandment that, when obeyed, has a promise of things going well and living long on the earth. “Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth”. In light of these verses and many others, it would seem to be perfectly God-honoring to celebrate a day in which fathers, the God-given spiritual head of the family, could and should be honored. Regardless of a man’s past or his own family’s parentage, he has the potential to be a godly father.

What are Some Key Characteristics of a Godly Father from a Biblical Perspective?

In the biblical perspective a “godly father” is a man who seeks to fulfill his role as a father in accordance with the principles and teachings found in the Word of God. He understands that his role goes beyond providing for the physical needs of his children and encompasses nurturing their spiritual, emotional, and moral well-being.

1.  A godly father has a personal relationship with God! A godly and praying father also wants his children to have a relationship with God themselves. He believes a relationship with God is the most important one in his life and models that godliness for his children.
2.  A godly father loves and honors his wife. He understands that the best gift a father can give his children is to love their mother. He obeys the Word of God in Ephesians 5:25, 28, when children grow up watching healthy, loving interactions between their parents, they naturally seek to imitate that in their own marriages.
3.  A godly father leads in the responsibility for his children’s spiritual training. Providing financially for his family is an important responsibility, he also has the responsibility for their spiritual training, 1 Timothy 5:8. He goes first setting the pace for the family by practicing what he preaches. He follows the direction of the Holy Spirit. He leads them to a healthy, Bible-teaching church, leads them in personal devotions, and is an example of developing  Christian character.
4.  A godly father is continually aware of his influence. Unfortunately, many fathers do not realize it, but everything they do is influencing their children and has lasting implications.
5.  A godly father models unselfish service. Godly and praying fathers figure out ways to involve their little ones in that service. When children grow up watching their father quietly serve the Lord without expectation of reward, they internalize those values.
6. A godly father is consistent and disciplines his children appropriately. Nothing confuses children more than inconsistency, either in discipline or example. They channel their anger where it needs to go, they practice forgiveness, and they never allow anger to create confusion in their children. A father who is angry one minute and loving the next creates insecurity in his children Wise discipline helps children learn to control themselves and keeps them out of serious trouble noted in Proverbs 13:24; 18:19.
7. A godly father is a man under authority and does not allow himself to be controlled by outside influences. He will guard his life against any dependencies or addictions, such as alcohol, drugs, or pornography, or create a home environment marked by insecurity, fear, and depression. Godly fathers are controlled only by the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:18. Children who watch their fathers run to Jesus with their problems can learn to imitate that healthy behavior. In the gospel of John Jesus demonstrated that He was a Man under the authority of His heavenly Father (John 5:19; 12:49). In John 8:29. He readily gave credit to God for His successes and submitted Himself fully to the will of God. A father’s impact on child development is HUGE!  According to The Fatherhood Project, a non-profit fatherhood program seeking to improve the health and well-being of children and families by empowering fathers to be knowledgeable, active, and emotionally engaged with their children, researched the specific impacts of father engagement during the different childhood development stages. Children without fathers have more difficulties with social adjustment, and are more likely to report problems with friendships, and manifest behavior problems; many develop a swaggering, intimidating persona in an attempt to disguise their underlying fears, resentments, anxieties, and unhappiness

There are tremendous advantages that are afforded to children who have active, involved fathers during childhood and adolescence. 

Here are 10 important facts that were collected during their research:

1. Fathers and infants can be equally attached to mothers and infants. When both parents are involved with the child, infants are attached to both parents from the beginning of life.
2. Father involvement is related to positive child health outcomes in infants, such as improved weight gain in preterm infants and improved breastfeeding rates.
3. Father involvement using authoritative parenting (loving and with clear boundaries and expectations) leads to better emotional, academic, social, and behavioral outcomes for children.
4. Children who feel a closeness to their father are: twice as likely as those who do not to enter college or find stable employment after high school, 75% less likely to have a teen birth, 80% less likely to spend time in jail, and half as likely to experience multiple depression symptoms.
5. Fathers occupy a critical role in child development. Father’s absence hinders development from early infancy through childhood and into adulthood. The psychological harm of the father’s absence experienced during childhood persists throughout the life course.
6. The quality of the father-child relationship matters more than the specific amount of hours spent together. Non-resident fathers can have positive effects on children’s social and emotional well-being, as well as academic achievement and behavioral adjustment.
7. High levels of father involvement are correlated with higher levels of sociability, confidence, and self-control in children. Children with involved fathers are less likely to act out in school or engage in risky behaviors in adolescence.
8. Children with actively involved fathers are 43% more likely to earn A’s in school and 33% less likely to repeat a grade than those without engaged dads.
9. Father engagement reduces the frequency of behavioral problems in boys while also decreasing delinquency and economic disadvantage in low-income families.
10. Father engagement commitment reduces psychological problems and rates of depression in young women.

Overall, the impact that fathers and father figures can make is substantial! Just as there are many positive aspects to father involvement, the effects of a father’s absence can be detrimental as well.

A FATHER’S  HEART: Exodus 20:3-6. “Never have any other god. Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water.  Never worship them or serve them, because I, the Lord your God, am a God who does not tolerate rivals. I punish children for their parent’s sins to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me.  But I show mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my commandments.” (GW)

 Godly Fathers have an important role to play for both girls and boys. Children benefit from having a close relationship with both parents, with each offering them something that the other does not. As children get older, a father’s role continues to be important, but it changes.

♦    Boys: Their dad may be a role model. A father’s influence may have a lot to do with how sociable boys are.

♦    Girls: Having a good relationship with their father can have an impact on their self-esteem and sense of identity, especially while they are teenagers.

♦   Teenagers: Fathers are especially important in the teenage years. They may help

with setting limits or may have a particular role in helping the teens to spread their wings.

A godly father, according to the biblical perspective, embodies qualities such as leadership, love, sacrifice, spiritual guidance, discipline, encouragement, protection, humility, forgiveness, prayerfulness, and perseverance. By striving to live out these qualities, a father can have a profound impact on the lives of his children and reflect the character of God in his role as a father.

FATHER GOD: Thank You for Your Word that gives us clear instructions on how to live and represent You well.  Thank You for godly and praying fathers who find inspiration to be the fathers God has called them to be, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen!