Father: August 21, 2012

TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 21, 2012

FATHER

DEFINITION:

A male parent; God

SCRIPTURE:

Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise. Ephesians 6:2.

So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord, God, their Father; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. II Chronicles 20: 4.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

It is highly evident that our society is in rapid decline morally and spiritually. We do not have to look much farther for the cause of this decline than the disintegration of the family unit. God ordained the family to be the basis of society. When the family breaks down, society breaks down. Many children are living either in one parent families or in dysfunctional families.

It was God’s plan that father’s should lead the family and provide for them. It is alarming how many fathers have abandoned their families today. This is not biblical and in fact the scriptures give us a very clear direction for fathers as to how to live their lives. No human father is perfect but with the Holy Spirit, knowledge of God’s Word, and godly mentors a man can become a successful dad and father. Following are several principles to help a father accomplish what God expects from a man who is or becoming a father.

Make sure you have made your decision to follow Jesus so that you can help your children to trust in Jesus as early in their life as possible. They will then grow with the understanding that God is to be the center of everything they do. It is the father’s leadership role to teach this to the children.

Make sure you set biblical standards in your home such as honesty, purity, loyalty and integrity and then live by them. These values will guide your children to make right value decisions. Teach your children about love, respect, and mutual encouragement. This will teach them how to treat others and how to develop good relationships with others.

In your vocation be a model in cooperation and doing your work at your work-place and at home “heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Colossians 3:23. Your children then will be inclined to form a healthy work ethic. Teach your children the right way to handle money: to earn it honestly, give the first 10% back to God, and to invest it intelligently. Teach your children to “be generous and willing to share what they have.” I Timothy 6:18

Unless children learn how to function properly under authority rebelliousness can easily develop. A father has a role to teach their children by example because children notice when there is a disconnect between what is taught and what is practiced in the home. Setting a good example is essential.

The importance of the father’s role of setting a good example and being the spiritual leader of his family is seen in the family of Gideon. Gideon was a highly successful leader, under God, of the army of Israel. He led an army of 10,000 and defeated 135, 000 Medianites with 300 soldiers. Gideon could lead a nation but he failed as a father and could not lead his own family.

His failure came as a result of an extramarital relationship, which is sin in God’s sight. In this relationship he had a son, named Abimelech (Judges 8:31). This caused real problems within his family. In Judges 9:5 we read that after the death of his father, Gideon, Abimelech went to his father’s home and murdered his seventy half-brothers.

Fathers need to put their trust daily in the hands of their Heavenly Father. In the second verse above from II Chronicles we read about the time that King Jehoshaphat of Judah faced a problem. Three neighboring tribes, the Moabites, Amonites and Meunites simultaneously waged war against the King with the sole purpose of dethroning him.

The King needed help. He went to his Heavenly Father asking Him for His leading, His guidance and His protection. Most leaders would have crumbled under this pressure. Many fathers today crumble under much less pressure. Because they do not turn to their Heavenly Father for guidance.

The King proclaimed and led his people in a time of prayer and a fast throughout his land. God heard His prayer and the prayer of his people (his family) and answered their prayers. The tribes ended up fighting each other and destroying themselves because God did intervene on behalf of the King and the people of Judah (his family).

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

PRAYER:

Thank You that we know that whatever concern us concerns You as well. As fathers, and mothers, help us to look to God for guidance and enable us to be spiritual leaders in our home. Help us to plant healthy concepts daily into the minds and hearts of our children equipping them to be motivated to fulfill Your purpose in their lives.