Honor Godly Fathers

“When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.”  Thus Job did continually” (Job 1:5).

Job is hailed as an example of suffering.  Job also sets an example as a father.  He continually prayed for his children.  Every godly father prays continually for his children.  It is an awesome task to be a parent.  We need all the help that we can get in rearing children.

Those who have godly men for fathers are greatly blessed.  My father was not a religious man.  I am not sure that he even believed in God.  I found God on my own after my 21st birthday.  After eight years I married, and four years later I became a father.  I was faced with new responsibilities with the adoption of Joel.  Not having an example of a godly father to follow, I was lost.  God provided what I needed to learn to be a father.  I learned from great Christian examples, and perhaps more important, from the word of our Father.  In my ignorance I was smart enough to ask God for wisdom and guidance.  He answered me and guided me into becoming the kind of father that I wished my own father had been.

A young father asked me, “When do you stop worrying about your children?”  My answer was, “Never”.  When do you stop being a father?  Hopefully, not in your lifetime. I have known fathers who have thrown their children out of their lives.  In most cases, the reason was that the son or daughter didn’t choose to live the kind of life that the father wanted him or her to have.  To my thinking, these fathers put their own wants ahead of love for their children.  Like God, we do not want to slam the door shut so hard that our children will never want to return. 

God gave us a great example to follow as fathers in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).  A godly father always keeps the door open and will meet his children with open arms.  That father didn’t wait for his son to come up and beg forgiveness.  He rushed out to meet his son with rejoicing and forgiveness.  He knew his son well enough to know why he was returning.

We need to know our children, really know them.  We must take the time, no matter the cost, to know our children.  We should help our children and not exasperate them (Ephesians 6:4a).

Fathers have a great responsibility “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4b).  Fathers never stop teaching their children, even after their children have become parents. Never forget, “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3a).  Children are truly gifts from God.

Men who are godly fathers are a blessing to their children.  They are also a blessing to their own wives.  They share the duties of parenting.  Godly fathers deserve honor.

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Heavenly Father, Creator, we praise You, Father, for the examples we have of godly fathers among us.  We also thank You for the example You have given us in being our Father.  In the name of our Savior Christ Jesus. Amen.              ~ Ed

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Ed Wittlif ~ Denver, Colorado                                 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)