June 19, 2022
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)
“But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” 1 Timothy 5:8 (NLT)
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6 (ESV)
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL FATHERS
Father’s Day is a day to celebrate fatherhood, the influence of fathers in our homes and society, and to promote familial bonds. It is also celebrated to honor and commemorate our fathers and forefathers.
This father’s day is the first year in 98 years without my father. What a blessing to have had him for such a long time. After moving to Michigan from Texas many years ago, my father and I would talk early every Sunday
Morning! He was always up early in the morning studying, a routine I also developed when I was in college and in my later biblical studies and ministry. For me, it is the most peaceful time of the day.
I was also blessed to have a father who was my Pastor for over 20 years of my life. One of the blessings was during my time in Bible College and later in seminary. I especially enjoyed our real-life discussions and often the interlacing of biblical principles/applications relevant to the tensions of Scripture.
There were three biblical principles my father shared with me that I will never forget. I knew when he was really serious about sharing some life and biblical principles with me he would always begin with “Daughter!” He would say:
- “Daughter, you are not responsible for what others do or say about you, but you are responsible to God for how you respond and how you represent Christ.”
- “Daughter, remember, a person who does not have the love of God and spirit of Christ operating in their life they are capable of doing just about anything!
- “Daughter, you can always go to God for direction. He will guide you and teach you His Truth! He will always tell you what you need to know.
There were times when I would ask him about a life’s decision, and he would not give me a straight answer. Then I would remember what he said. 
One of my life’s Scriptures is Psalm 32:8 The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (NLT) One thing I adopted from that biblical principle is, that not only will God guide you along the best pathway for your life, but He will also inform you regarding EVERY life encounter. I never have to be confused about a decision, direction, or person, God will answer informing and instructing what I need to know when I take the time to ask HIM and wait for His answer!
Fatherhood is an awesome responsibility and a rewarding journey! It was one of the first jobs God gave men. Providing sperm for conception is merely the beginning of God’s expectation for fathers. Sperm can make a baby, but it takes a real man to be a father. He commanded Adam and Eve (Adam’s WIFE) “be fruitful and multiply.” Unfortunately, there are some men who want to be good fathers yet they have little understanding of what godly fatherhood looks like.
Let’s take a look at what God expects of fatherhood and some of the characteristics of a godly father.
- A Godly Father has a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and honors Him with his life. He is not expected to be perfect, but obedient to the word of God! He considers his relationship with God the most important one in his life, modeling godliness for his children. He is expected to be the leader of his family. So godly fatherhood begins within the heart of a man.
- A godly father is always conscious of how he impacts the lives of his children and others. Being a father is an awesome opportunity to make an eternal investment and shaping of the lives of their children. It is not “do what I say, not what I do” an unfortunate attitude of many fathers. Sons, in particular, need male role models to show them how to become men. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4!
- A godly father loves and honors his wife. It has been said that the best gift a father can give his children is to love their mother. Parents are usually the first role models children see! Consequently, children grow up watching healthy, loving interactions between their parents, and they naturally seek to imitate that in their own marriages. Sadly, children often do not see their fathers and mothers loving each other. The Apostle Paul makes it real clear in Ephesians 5:25, 28, how a man should treat his wife.
- A godly father accepts responsibility for his children’s spiritual training. It is not the responsibility of the mother while the father often feels his paycheck is his contribution to the family. He should pray and teach the word of God to his children. This encourages Christian character and biblical responsibility.
- A godly father is under authority! His is to be a leader in all areas of development: physically, emotionally, socially, financially as well as spiritually. He is an instrument in God’s hand. He is to be the priest of his home as well as a provider and protector. The world is in desperate need of men who will lead wisely and it is not domination or control. A leader is one who goes first. He sets the pace for the family by practicing what he preaches. He is on the lookout for dangers and takes initiative to protect his family from them. He meets first with God so that, when he presents a plan to his family, they have confidence that he is following the direction of the Holy Spirit. He leads them in personal devotions and a healthy, Bible-teaching environment. He leads his wife as her confidant and champion. He leads at church by serving according to his gifts. He is a godly man that his children can be proud of as noted in Proverbs 17:6.
The family was God’s exclusive idea from the very beginning of time. There is absolutely no greater institution, no better group of people to effect change positive or negative in the world than the family. There is no better place to learn the indispensable principles of life than the family. And nowhere can the truths of God’s Word be more effectively taught and modeled. Conversely, there is no institution, no group of people with more power and ability to destroy a person than the family. What we say and do can damage the emotional well-being of a child well into adulthood, and often for a lifetime.
The failure of parents to teach spiritual truths to their children directly impacts their relationship with God and how they treat others. Family is the environment that shapes a child’s lifetime direction!
AN OBEDIENT 
HEART: Instructions from Deuteronomy chapter 6: The greatest commandment in the Word of God is: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” Deuteronomy 6:5. Going back to vs 2. says, “So that you, your children, and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.” Deuteronomy 6:5, says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” Deuteronomy 6:6-7.
FATHER GOD: Thank You for Your Word that provides clear instructions on how to be a godly father! Thank You in the Precious, Powerful and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen.
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