Resolve to take action this new year to grow as a faithful father. In our Seasons of Fathering handbook, initiating action is encouraged early and often on the fathering journey. The investment of time and love early on will not only help mom navigate through the stress of the demands of a newborn, it will increase dad’s sensitivity to opportunities to step in where he can, to help burp the baby or put him down to sleep.
Action is grounded in loving your wife, learning to love her as Christ loves the Church. Then there is engaging with the kids as they learn to read, and helping them learn a sport or a skill. Staying on top of their grades and relationships. Action is full-time work through the Teacher and Coach seasons for a dad that wants to be a faithful father.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. – Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Moses’ instructions to the men of Israel were foundational. In biblical times, just as today, men were responsible for many tasks but at the top of the list was setting the standard by being the father the next generation needed to see. Living a love relationship with the Lord through obedience to Him left no room for passivity. As seen throughout the Old Testament, passivity led to worshipping foreign gods. Baal made his appearance via the golden calf. Molech encouraged the sacrifice of children. Ishtar introduced sexual perversion. It takes commitment to follow Moses’ instructions to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” In the process, the other gods are purged from the home and have no influence in the family. Similarly, the author of Hebrews challenges followers of the Way - “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”- Hebrews 12:1-2. The little ‘g’ gods are persistent. When passivity is allowed to push intentional action aside, eyes drift from Jesus. Then Baal shows up in materialism, Molech shows up in the abortion industry and Ishtar shows up in the pornographic industry. Dads today are charged to initiate intentional action in family that will purge these gods from the home and rebuke any influence knocking at the door.
Suggested Actions:
Initiate a regular date night with your wife and a weekend getaway;
Read scripture daily and initiate spiritual discussion in the home during the week;
Schedule regular one-on-one time with each child;
Check out Faithful Fathering’s weekend and extended getaway opportunities;
Prayer guide: Father, thank You for Your word and for the charge to obey. I confess passivity that has allowed little ‘g’ gods to distract me and my house. Forgive me. Grant me strength and resolve to obey You, to live under Your word in a way that purges the other gods from my home and rebukes any influence they try to peddle. That is the dad You call me to be and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father resolves to act in obedience to God’s word.
