[x_custom_headline type=”left” level=”h4″ looks_like=”h4″]Not one person reading this has ever had a perfect father. In fact, there are some people who don’t even know who their father was. And for many people, it is the failures of their father that have caused them a lot of pain and emotional scars. However, I want to point out to you today the advantages of being a godly father to your children, even if you yourself did not have a father in your own life who patterned this lifestyle for you.[/x_custom_headline]
I know I did not. My dad did not read a Bible or have a daily commitment to the place of prayer. My dad did not take me to church, read me Bible stories when I was young, or even one time in my life pray with me or over me about anything. My dad did not share testimonies with me of God’s hand upon his life, or of being led by the Spirit of God. He did not memorize scriptures, and encourage me to do the same, or sing praise songs to Jesus. That never, ever happened in my life. I wish it would have of course, but it didn’t. Instead, I led my father to Jesus just hours before his death, when I was only seventeen years old. And I’m still rejoicing about that today.
The reason I am telling you this is because many guys make excuses for not being the father God wants them to be, all because they had a father who wasn’t what God wanted him to be, either. But those excuses aren’t valid.
Almighty God, our loving Heavenly Father, is our ultimate example of fatherhood. So then, if like me you didn’t have an earthly father who patterned a godly lifestyle before you, your Bible is filled with the insight you need to carry out this task in your own life.
And let me state right here, that I am not saying that being a godly father means that you are a perfect father. I know I am not a perfect dad, and my sons certainly know that I am not. In fact, it would be very easy to list all of my failings and short comings as a dad, as well as all of the things I regret and wish I had done better. But dad-bashing, whether or not it is our own dad that we are bashing, or whether we are bashing ourselves as a dad, isn’t the purpose of this writing.
Instead, I want to show you some things from the Word of God to encourage you to do things God’s way as a father, and the benefits that come from that. So let’s take a look at this passage from Psalm 112.
[x_blockquote cite=”Psalm 112:1-2 NASU” type=”left”]“1 Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who greatly delights in His commandments. 2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed.”[/x_blockquote]
Although we were created by God for blessings, many people have been raised under a curse. But you and I can change that for our kids and grandkids, by upholding the standards of the Word of God. The children of the upright are blessed! In fact, take a look at this passage from some other Bible versions.
[x_blockquote cite=”Psalm 112:2 TLB” type=”left”]“His children shall be honored everywhere, for good men’s sons have a special heritage.”[/x_blockquote]
[x_blockquote cite=”Psalm 112:2 TEV” type=”left”]“The good man’s children will be powerful in the land; his descendants will be blessed.”[/x_blockquote]
In fact, the Bible says that if we as dads will be doers of the Word, then we can expect the mercy of God to rest upon our kids.
[x_blockquote cite=”Psalm 103:17-18 KJV” type=”left”]“17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.”[/x_blockquote]
He word “mercy” in this verse means, kindness, favor and unfailing love. Now who wouldn’t want these things for their children? And what’s more, the impact of God’s righteousness will come upon your children and your grandchildren, too. The point is, if we will determine to get this right, and live according to the Word of God, several generations will be impacted by that decision.
We are responsible to use our voice and our words, to make known God’s faithfulness to this generation. And we are responsible to teach our children the things of the Lord.
[x_blockquote cite=”Psalm 89:1 AMP” type=”left”]“I WILL sing of the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness from generation to generation.”[/x_blockquote]
Again let me stress that being a godly father doesn’t mean that you will be perfect. It means that you teach and train your kids to live for Jesus. And yes we do this with our words, but we do it with our lifestyle also.
I want you to understand that there are many benefits to being a godly father, both for your children, as well as for you personally. For example, one of the ways God knew He could trust Abraham with His plans was because Abraham would faithfully and consistently teach his children the things of the Lord (see Genesis 18:19). This is the quality God is looking for in the people He reveals His secrets to. So if you are needing God to reveal some vital things regarding your life and future to you, choose to be a godly father. Because that is one of the ways you qualify for this.
In addition, some other wonderful benefits to being a godly father is that your children will be used by God for signs and wonders in these last days (see Isaiah 8:18). Also, peace and protection have been promised to our children if we will teach them the Word of God (see Isaiah 54:13-14, 17). This is the heritage that we should be passing on to our children.
All of the problems of past generations can change when we instruct our children in the Word of the Lord. This means that no matter what your background and past may be, and no matter how you were raised yourself, you can change it for your kids by giving them God’s Word.
Choose to be a godly father, and reap the abundant benefits of it for yourself, your kids, grandkids, and future generations to come.
