Is there anything you need to think differently of? As one of the speakers at the Stand in the Gap event on The Mall in Washington D.C. in 1997, Dr. Tony Evans, Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, charged the men in attendance to think differently about their role in the home, church and community.

At one point during his talk, he asked the men to pull out a picture of their family. Each of us were on our knees with a picture before us as Dr. Evans led in a prayer. Praying for family, specifically each family member by name every day, was presented as a key component of a man’s role in the home. It was a charge to think differently in order to become the men, husbands and fathers the next generation needs.

“But if anyone fails to provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” – 1Timothy 5:8. Many men, myself included, have taken this passage to mean financial provision as a father. Financial provision is important but Paul’s admonition here is for men to be provisionary. This includes, among other things, being the bearer of divine blessing similar to Jacob’s blessings over his sons in Genesis 49; Leading by example as Joshua committed to in Joshua 24:15; being an authority to be respected; being the family priest – Exodus 3:12; and being the family teacher – Deuteronomy 6. This broader view of Paul’s admonition calls for thinking differently about provision.  “And let us consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another,” – Hebrews 10:24-25. The writer of Hebrews says to encourage one another by meeting together. Lone-ranger Christians make easy targets for the evil one. This is a charge for men to think differently about relationships with other men and their relationship with the church. When Faithful Fathering helps establish a core group, a lay-leadership team of dads in a church and equips them with the PASS the BATON strategy, those dads consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, and encourage other men throughout the church.

Over the last several weeks, and in our recent Faithful Fathering Podcast series, suggestions have been made for what you may need to be “Thinking More Of”, “Thinking Less Of” and now “Thinking Differently Of”. You are what you think. With discipline and discernment, thoughts can stay tuned-in to Christ and every man can become more Christ-like today than yesterday, and more so tomorrow than today.

Prayer guide: Father, thank You for Your word and the perspective it provides. I confess that I have not thought much about what I think of. I have been in more of a provide and survive mode, striving to be successful in this world. Forgive me. Grant me the discernment and discipline needed to think differently about my role in the home, connecting with other men in the church and helping the church impact other dads in the community in a way that glorifies You. That is the dad You call me to be and that’s the dad the next generation needs. Amen.

A faithful father thinks differently of his role in the home, church and beyond.