We live in a nation that portrays fathers as powerless, confused, clueless, non-interested and non-existent. While there are some situations where there are children with non-existent fathers because they have forsaken their role of father in the lives of their children and while there are some fathers who show no interest in their children's daily lives even though they are present in the home, the overall perception of the father should not be defined by these defects. Once upon a time in this country fathers were revered and honored as the cornerstone of the family. We had shows like Father Knows Best, Leave It To Beaver, and The Cosby Show that depicted fathers in positive light as men of integrity who were respectable and respected and revered by their wives and children. What happened to the image of the father that has caused this nation to now portray them as bumbling idiots who can't do anything right and who are mocked by their wives and children with their permission? What happened to cause this nation to depict fathers as powerless?
Contrary to the common view of the father in this nation as depicted in our media and as lived out in many homes throughout this country, fathers are important, relevant, necessary, and powerful to their families. There are a few powerful characteristics about fathers that are unique only to them.
1. Fathers provide Identity for their children. Fathers as carriers of the seed that initiates conception possess the ability to provide the chromosome that determines the sex/gender of their children. Simple biology lesson here. Men carry an X and a Y chromosome and women carry only the X chromosome. If at the time of conception the man provides an X then the identity of the child will be that of a female. If the man provides a Y then the identity of the child will be that of a male. Within the seed of the man lies the power to determine the identity of the child.
While fathers provide a natural identity for their children at birth, it is important for fathers to also provide a spiritual identity for their children by introducing them to the Lord, Jesus Christ as savior. The child knows who he or she is in the natural because of the identity that their earthly father gave them, but when a father introduces his children to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, his children will receive an eternal identity as a citizen of God's kingdom. By leading their children to receive Christ as their personal Lord and Savior fathers will present to their children a new identity as a born again child of God (John 1:12).
2. Fathers provide a Heritage for their children. A heritage is an inheritance that is transmitted through birth. Children when born generally take their fathers last name as their own. With that name comes a heritage through the lineage of the father. Heritage also speaks of certain characteristics and pedigree that is transmitted through birth.
By living a godly life before their children and teaching them the ways of the Lord, fathers provide a holy heritage for their children that can be passed along from generation to generation. Isaiah 54:17 lets us know that we who are born again children of God have a heritage in the Lord. That heritage is one of victory, protection, vindication, truth, and honor. Proverbs 22:6 says to train up our children in the ways of the Lord so that when they are old they will not depart from the path of godliness. The heritage of a godly lifestyle is one that will guide our children for a lifetime.
3. Fathers provide Validation for their children. To validate is to legitimize or establish value. It is an acknowledgement of being pleased by the life of another. By establishing the legitimacy of their children, fathers validate their children thereby adding value to the existence of their children. Everyone longs for validation and children long for and seek the approval or validation of their fathers.
God validated Jesus as His son when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist recorded in Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; and Luke 3:21-22. God has validated us as His children through the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15), not that we deserved it or were worthy of it in and of ourselves, but because He loved us. As a father validates his children by establishing their legitimacy, fathers by introducing their children to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and passing along a holy heritage of godly living can teach their children that they are validated by God.
We must be careful not to allow this modern world's values to shape our understanding of what a father is or is supposed to be. Fathers are crucial to their families and are to be celebrated. There is much ado made for mothers during the mother's day season and rightly so because mothers are valuable to their families. However, fathers are just as valuable and should be celebrated just the same. May the image of the father as God intended it to be, be restored through the scope of God's Kingdom.
- D. Bailey
Contrary to the common view of the father in this nation as depicted in our media and as lived out in many homes throughout this country, fathers are important, relevant, necessary, and powerful to their families. There are a few powerful characteristics about fathers that are unique only to them.
1. Fathers provide Identity for their children. Fathers as carriers of the seed that initiates conception possess the ability to provide the chromosome that determines the sex/gender of their children. Simple biology lesson here. Men carry an X and a Y chromosome and women carry only the X chromosome. If at the time of conception the man provides an X then the identity of the child will be that of a female. If the man provides a Y then the identity of the child will be that of a male. Within the seed of the man lies the power to determine the identity of the child.
While fathers provide a natural identity for their children at birth, it is important for fathers to also provide a spiritual identity for their children by introducing them to the Lord, Jesus Christ as savior. The child knows who he or she is in the natural because of the identity that their earthly father gave them, but when a father introduces his children to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, his children will receive an eternal identity as a citizen of God's kingdom. By leading their children to receive Christ as their personal Lord and Savior fathers will present to their children a new identity as a born again child of God (John 1:12).
2. Fathers provide a Heritage for their children. A heritage is an inheritance that is transmitted through birth. Children when born generally take their fathers last name as their own. With that name comes a heritage through the lineage of the father. Heritage also speaks of certain characteristics and pedigree that is transmitted through birth.
By living a godly life before their children and teaching them the ways of the Lord, fathers provide a holy heritage for their children that can be passed along from generation to generation. Isaiah 54:17 lets us know that we who are born again children of God have a heritage in the Lord. That heritage is one of victory, protection, vindication, truth, and honor. Proverbs 22:6 says to train up our children in the ways of the Lord so that when they are old they will not depart from the path of godliness. The heritage of a godly lifestyle is one that will guide our children for a lifetime.
3. Fathers provide Validation for their children. To validate is to legitimize or establish value. It is an acknowledgement of being pleased by the life of another. By establishing the legitimacy of their children, fathers validate their children thereby adding value to the existence of their children. Everyone longs for validation and children long for and seek the approval or validation of their fathers.
God validated Jesus as His son when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist recorded in Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; and Luke 3:21-22. God has validated us as His children through the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15), not that we deserved it or were worthy of it in and of ourselves, but because He loved us. As a father validates his children by establishing their legitimacy, fathers by introducing their children to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and passing along a holy heritage of godly living can teach their children that they are validated by God.
We must be careful not to allow this modern world's values to shape our understanding of what a father is or is supposed to be. Fathers are crucial to their families and are to be celebrated. There is much ado made for mothers during the mother's day season and rightly so because mothers are valuable to their families. However, fathers are just as valuable and should be celebrated just the same. May the image of the father as God intended it to be, be restored through the scope of God's Kingdom.
- D. Bailey
Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come thy will be done. It is with holy reverence and prayerful thanksgiving that we are humbled in the presence of Almighty God. The fact that we are able to refer to Him as Father acknowledges our sonship. To as many as received Him He gave the power to become sons. (John 1:12) To become says that we were not it yet. In this are we able to become - identifies us with the Father. Are you a son? If yes then you have a right to the inheritance according to the promises of God. Hallelujah
ReplyDeleteAs the Father told the elder son in Luke 15:31 Jesus words quoted "And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."
In closing be reminded of what Jesus said to those that were with Him before He returned.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." John 14:12
Kingdomseeker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE