Daily Devotional: A Christian Father in the 21st Century

by Jerry Ousley  

 

By Jerry D. Ousley

 

            In spite of what or who you may think of when you hear the word “father,” and in spite of the fact that a father is biologically required for the birth of a child, according to the Bible, a father is a God-ordained office in a family situation and in the life of a child.  Regardless of our modern acceptance of sinful practices (and no more comment is required for this article), the Biblical definition of a family is a father, a mother and the children as products of that union.

 

            I remember a very special time we had with our dad.  At that time, we lived in Northern Indiana and that winter we had one of the largest snowfalls we had ever experienced.  We seldom got to see dad because he worked second shift and we were in school when he was home and he was gone to work by the time school was out.  So, the weekends were special.  On this particular weekend, on Sunday afternoon, after the snowfall, we all bundled up to go out and play in the snow.  Dad came out with us and helped us to build an igloo made from thick snow blocks we had formed.  We joyously spent the entire afternoon out there and when it was finished it was large enough for all of us to play in.  Because the snow blocks were so thick, that igloo lasted to the end of winter. It was a very special time and we all cherish the thought of spending that afternoon with dad.

 

            In Ephesians 6:1-4, Paul quoted the fifth commandment as found in Deuteronomy 5:16 which says, “Honor you father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”  Paul tells us that this is the first commandment with promise, and so it is. Children who are obedient to their fathers and mothers are promised long days on the earth.  A pretty good promise if you ask me.

           

            Paul gave a condition to the father’s as well.  He said “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”  (Ephesians 6:4). Okay, so it seems that there is work to do on both sides of the fence.  Children are to obey their parents but parents, and particularly fathers, are not to provoke their children to anger (wrath). 

 

            Since we are approaching Father’s Day, let’s look at this from dad’s angle.  I believe all of us should ask ourselves a series of questions, “have I been a parent in the Lord?  Have I reflected the true Father in my life?  Have I been in the image of God to my family?  Can my children look on my life and example and see the working power of Jesus Christ?  Have I provoked my children to wrath?  Has my constant nagging driven them to disklike me?  Am I too hard on them when I punish them?  Have I proven to my children that I love them?”  And perhaps most important, “Because of my example, do my children have a problem honoring me, and being obedient to me?”

 

            I’m afraid in our modern era the name “father” has become many things it wasn’t meant to be.  When kids hear the word “father” what do they think of?  More questions . . . Do they think of a cruel person?  Do they think of someone who abuses their mother or his children?  Do they imagine a cruel taskmaster? Or . . . do they think of a man who proves his love for them?  Do they think of a man who dearly loves their mother?  Do they think of a man who shows kindness?  Do they think of a man who doesn’t hold to double standards?

 

            The actual duties of a father are immense.  Again, according to the Bible a father is to be the head of the family, a good leader who doesn’t just bark orders, but lives by his own rules and isn’t afraid to jump in and do his part.  His decisions are made on behalf and for the good of the entire family, not just making them do what he wants to do.  We are to be teachers to our families both in our words and deeds.  We discipline in love not anger.  We are the family worship leaders.

 

            Even in the 21st century God expects no more and no less out of fathers than He ever did.  I realize that we live in an age when men are made out to be weak, stupid, and selfish liars.  For some reason the role of women has become that of what man should be.  I’m not speaking of traditional roles that housework is women’s work and the man is the hunter and bread winner.  I realize in our modern day that women have professional roles in society.  But we must look at the Biblical definition, particularly in the New Testament.  When we do, we will discover that roles and leadership is something completely different than perhaps what we may have thought.

 

            Men, when we do our part, when we teach, discipline and treat our children as God does His, (for He is the role model of the father because He is the ultimate Father), and when we truly love our wives as Christ loves the Church, giving Himself for her, then we will see the true order of things fall into place.  I for one, think it is high time to be respected as the father we should be, if we are the father we should be. 

 

     Are you?

 

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ïSoul Challengeï, ïSoul Journeyï, ïOrdealï, ïThe Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ïThe Shoe Tree.ï Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

 

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