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This is a message directed to fathers. It doesn’t come from a place of having attained perfection as a father, but out of a call to deeper commitment to leading as God calls fathers to lead.
Genesis – We see Adam in the garden as a groundskeeper. For Adam there wasn’t a helper found. So God took a rib from Adam and created a woman from that rib. She was designed and perfectly fit the needs of Adam as a help meet.
1 Timothy 2:13-15, 1 Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 5, 6 – God grows us and is sanctifying us to be more like him. God’s design for the family is pretty clear. The father is called to be a leader, in a humble and solid way.
What is it that God calls fathers to?
1 Timothy 6:6 – Fathers are to provide for his own. For those under his care. Not just physical, but spiritual as well.
Impressing others, or attempting to, brings about self inflicted pain. This is true not only for trivial things, but also in how we lead and provide for our family.
As fathers we are called to lead in truth and in holiness. Even when popular opinion goes against this truth and this holiness.
Fathers need to be in tune with God, with the Spirit and with his Word. “If there is anything good in my family, it is only by the grace of God.”
If we are doing well, if our families are doing well it is only by the grace of God. We do need to do our part, but ultimately it is by the grace of God.
Psalm 127:1-5 – It is only when the Lord builds the city (or the family) that we can accomplish anything good.
Imagine a person being given an diamond. Imagine him trading that diamond for something worth only a couple of dollars. The concept is similar to what happens when a father who has a wife and children doesn’t understand the value of what he has, what has been I trusted to him.
Psalm 127 likens children to arrows in the quiver of an archer. The archer crafts his arrows carefully. He knew them intimately. It takes time to raise a child to maturity, but it really isn’t “too long.” They start as so dependent and in a few short years they grow so fast.
How Should a Father Raise His Children?
A Father, by his example and direction, should be teaching his children to love and appreciate his father.
A Father should be teaching his children a biblical world view from a young age. Scripture. Prayer. Sex. Current events. News. The world around you. Etc. Don’t wait for the world around you to teach your children about such things.
A Father, Ephesians 6:4, is called to keep his children’s hearts.
A Father is called to help his children focus on the Father in heaven. Bring your children to God, not just once, but often, daily pointing them to the Father in heaven.
Jesus taught his disciples as he walked. This is the best way to teach our children as well. Walking with them. Teaching as we go. Leading by example.
A Father, Hebrews 10:25, should be influential in participating, with his family, in the local body of believers.
Matthew 6:5-15 – Closing commitment prayer.