Week 19: June 19-25
“Celebrate Fatherhood”
Proverbs 20:7
The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!
Happy fathers day to all. For some, today is a celebration of a Godly and loving father. For some, today is a difficult day remembering an ungodly father, an absent father, or a father who has passed.
As is said in the military, “salute the rank not the man,” so we should also celebrate the “office of fatherhood” today regardless of our earthly example. We should acknowledge the biblical importance of the father’s role. God’s plan is for a family to consist of one father, one mother, and children. This plan calls for a father to be the leader of the home, the wife to be a submissive helpmeet, and both parents raising the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This is the “intended” plan, but this has been totally wrecked by sin and disobedience. Our sinful humanity has marred all the roles.
Why is it so hard to see the core family exist as God intended? Because “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12-13) We are sinful creatures and Satan himself is doing all he can do destroy our families. Having a godly family in this culture is tough! An ideal family doesn’t come naturally because our culture has made this type of family a very un-natural thing.
Many of us in this culture have found ourselves in a situation different than God’s intended plan. Divorce, single parent homes, unfaithful spouses, and unfaithful parents are some of the ways that sin and Satan have tried to destroy the family. We may try to tell ourselves and our children that our current situation is the norm. But as Godly parents our number one goal is to teach our children God’s interpretation of the world, not our own. We can spend too much time focusing on what we don’t have and what we aren’t, and not enough time on what God wants us to be. So we must teach God’s plan for family and celebrate God’s roles for men and women.
So today we need to celebrate and honor God’s position of fatherhood. First, if you are a father and aren’t leading like you should, START NOW! Get in the Word, get on your knees in prayer, and get some help from your local church. Second, we need to show the next generation of young men and women the blessing and goodness of what a Godly father can be and do. Young men without a father need to be taught to be good fathers. Young men with an ungodly father need to be pointed to the examples of our heavenly father and other good earthly fathers. Godly men who are unable to have children should seek to influence young boys who are fatherless.
We need to demonstrate these principles to our daughters as well. Absentee fathers force women to assume roles that God did not intend. It can be very easy for a young woman to think it to be natural to assume these roles and hinder a future husband who is trying to lead. Teach your daughters the blessings of a Godly husband and father.
Finally, if you have been blessed with a Godly father who is earnestly trying to lead, express your gratitude! Encourage him, because all of Satan’s forces are against him in his daily efforts. Children and wives, make it easy for fathers to lead. Pray for your father daily!
Pray Together
- Pray that God will protect our Godly fathers and raise up Godly fathers in this next generation.
- Pray that God will create an opportunity for a Gospel conversation this week.
- Pray that God will develop in you a heart of prayer and dependence on Him.