The most powerful man in the world - He is a very unique man who is consistent in his beliefs and stands on issues with a keen understanding of the impact he has on generations to come. He is committed to doing what is right, with perseverance second to none. He is a humble leader who accepts responsibility for preserving this one nation under God.

The most powerful man in the world is Dad. The Heavenly Father shares the moniker “father” to convey the inherent power that goes with the role. That power can be used to impact society for good as dads commit to PASS the BATON well to the next generation individually in the home and corporately in the church. It is through the church that the Lord is initiating a faithful fathering movement to raise the bar for fathering across our city and nation.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. … Then the king (Josiah) called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets – all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord – to follow the Lord and keep His commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. – 2Kings 22:11 & 23:1-3. King Josiah got it! His heart was turned to the Lord and he led the way for heart-turning to begin across the city and nation. Today, this would be like the president of the United States going on national television, the cable networks and all social media to read scripture to the masses. The president might start with the gospel of John – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning … The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”- John 1:1-2, 14. What a refreshing “State of the Union” that would be but it is most likely not going to happen.

A father must not abdicate the power of his influence to other leaders in this world, be they secular or religious. Instead, the call is for a dad to be a modern-day Josiah in his home. This is done by reading and discussing scripture early and often utilizing an illustrated Bible when the kids are young and moving to family devotion time or Bible studies as they mature. Then, involvement in the church and youth group will compliment what is happening in the home. And one home, one church at a time, a faithful fathering movement will have a Kingdom influence across our city and nation.

Prayer guide: Lord, thank You for Josiah’s example. “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength,...”(2Kings 23:25). I confess I tend to abdicate my responsibility to lead spiritually by example in family to my church and others in the children’s lives. Forgive me. Help me be a modern-day Josiah in my home and be the influence You expect me to be. Let the heart-turning begin as I become a faithful father - the man, husband and father You call me to be, that the next generation needs. Amen.

A faithful father starts a fathering movement in his home and church.