not that anyone here is a master on the topic. We all have room to improve. Why not look at the greatest father himself? What makes God the ideal model? Keith examines a handful of scriptures to share how following his lead can sharpen our own leadership skills. It also shines a light in areas where we fall short, and need to lean on him as we lead others. He remarks on scriptures as red from the NASB.
God’s attribute of fatherhood
Who does God claim to be father of? Not an individual like Arin or Moses, but the entire nation. He declares that Israel is firstborn. Not first in time, or first in prominence, but preeminence as far as God is concerned. As fathers we should also make a declaration and step out to protect those who God has given us to father. Exodus 4:22
A word to those who have a father. Be honorable to your father. Make others know who’s you are. Holiness is an attribute of God. It’s one that we can only partly achieve in this lifetime, if ever. But it’s one that we should be imitating. Deuteronomy 14:1,2
Fathers, your children are corrupt and have defects. They can be perverse and make you wonder if there really yours. You’re in good company, God’s children are that way to. God still provides for and cares for his children. There are times that God doesn’t get any respect either. Deuteronomy 32:5,6
the relationship of father to child is one that’s not broken. Even when trust is broken, iniquity is committed, they remain your child. It doesn’t remove the provision and care from the father. It doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. In the case of God’s fatherhood, he inflicts those punishments by the hand of other men. As a father, you don’t need to be the one to lay that corrective hand on child. Letting natural consequences take their course is a way to accomplish discipline. That’s right, if you jump out of that tree regularly, don’t come running to me. 2 Samuel 7:14
Fathers, love your children all the same, but recognize they each have different skills and talents. 1 Chronicles 28:6
Make wise and fair choices if you expect to have the respect and honor you deserve. Do your best to be the kind of godly leader and honorable father so that your children will be eager to return the blessing. If they’re not doing that, maybe it’s on you to do the improving. 1 Chronicles 29:10, 11
A father who patterns himself after God goes beyond the confines of his own family. Take time to seek out those who otherwise don’t have a father. Mentor them. Seek out the widow to make the attempt to watch over her needs as well. Provide the masculine care for those who otherwise don’t have it. Psalm 68:5
As fathers do we cry out to God for help when we need leadership? We should. Even warriors need a place to rest when they are battered after the fight. Are we being that shelter to those who are entrusted to us to be a father over? Psalm 89:26
Jesus was presumably trained, then sent forth and commissioned by his father. He had the most important mission of all to accomplish. As fathers, are we challenging our children to accomplish great things? Do we support them and acknowledge them when they accomplish milestones in that mission? The father boldly proclaimed that he was pleased at the commissioning of Christ. Matthew 3:17
while as an earthly father, it may not be in our power to cause the sun to shine for the rain to fall regardless of being just, I just righteous or unrighteous. If we are being diligent at being children of the heavenly father, we should be impressing our children to also be diligent.
We should strive to have them print of God on our lives in such a way that not only are children, but the whole world should see it. By extension, our children should have that godly imprint that points the world, not to us as fathers, but to their holy father in heaven. Matthew 5:45
These verses are all about a proper attitude in prayer with her heavenly father. If we can model this as fathers, our next goal is to teach our children to model it for themselves as well. Here’s a few thoughts that might help you apply this to your particular situation.
Why is it important to bring things to our heavenly father in secret? What is it mean to have our children bring things to us in secret?
How does God handle our private requests? What is a public reward look like?
As earthly fathers with earthly children what does this secret and public relationship look like?
What should it look like?
Our heavenly father knows what we need before we ask. As earthly fathers how can we know what our children need before they ask?
The Lord’s prayer, actually our model prayer, is always a good template for personal prayers to our heavenly father. It is also worthy to teach our children how to not only recite it but to use it as their own model. Matthew 6:4,6,8,9-13
Okay dads, admitted. Sometimes were not the most ideal parent. Let’s just say we can have a gross lack of spiritual gifts. Even so, in our evil state, we still know what a good gift for a child is. Since God is immensely better than we are, can you imagine what he has in store for his children? Matthew 7:11
Let God’s Holy Spirit speak through you and work through your life. Iron sharpening iron is a good thing. When men come together and hone each other’s talents. A much better way is will we reach the point where we can channel God’s own Holy Spirit in our lives.
Although our knowledge is limited, God’s knowledge is so detailed that he notices something as small as a sparrow in his kingdom. Might this look like for a dad to notice small things in the lives of his children?
We should wear our identity badge as children of God with honor. Everyone should know to whom we belong. As fathers, are we making our children proud to wear their identity in Christ as well?
Can we expect our children to proclaim that identity boldly in Christ, if we don’t model it for them first?
When we boldly proclaim Christ in the world, Christ will boldly proclaim us before our heavenly father.
Maybe a different look at this measure might be to ask to what degree are we honorably proclaiming Christ? Do we do with boldly, or shamefully? Or somewhere in between? The manner in which we proclaim Christ is in the same manner that Christ will proclaim us. Matthew 10:20,29,32,33
A final note on godliness. Godly wisdom and nature are hidden from the world. Oddly enough, the nature of his wisdom is easily revealed to infants. What me? Because it’s pleasing to God.
It means that you don’t need to be highly educated. It’s one of those complex things that even the most simply matured mind can understand.
Christ is the key to unlock godly wisdom.
All things belong to him. That means all things.
Only Christ knows the father. There is no other way to know God. The one caveat here is that anyone who knows Christ also knows the father. The way this is accomplished is not by something that we do, seek after, our wish for. We can only have a knowledge of the father when Christ himself reveals to us.
In all things, including fatherhood, strive for godliness. In all things, seek Christ first and that God be revealed to him. Matthew 11:25-27
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