What do you worship? “Worship sex and it will corrode your ability to love or be loved. Worship alcohol and it will ensnare you. Worship money and it will consume you. Worship your family and you (or they) will collapse under the burden of unfulfilled expectations. Worship any substitute god and you will find that it cannot satisfy.” (Alistair Begg, Truth for Life devotion).

Substitute gods can sneak in on you. Out of a sincere desire to provide well for the family, the almighty dollar or the job itself can get elevated to the point of impeding involvement with your wife and kids. While helping a child nurture their athletic gifts, time demands of select sports can get elevated over time to worship together as family in church. Kids may not ask but they will wonder, “What is being worshiped?”

“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent.” – Acts 17:29-30. Idols today may not be images we have crafted but ideals that have been granted authority as substitute gods.  The command is to turn from idols of whatever form, to repent and to worship the Lord, the Creator, the Sustainer, the Ruler, the Father, the Judge. We are children of God – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:16-17). The call is to live into that identity in Christ. “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23. All men are disciples of someone or something. Per Merriam-Webster, a disciple by definition is “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another; a convinced adherent of a school or individual.” Jesus says, “…be My disciple” - a charge to emulate Him; “…deny themselves” – a call to selfless, sacrificial living; “…take up their cross” – to discern unique giftedness for a specific area of ministry in the church or para-church; and, “…follow Me” – to keep eyes focused on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Take up your cross and disciple the next generation.
Tips to take up your cross:

• Read His book, the Bible daily: find a reading plan and put it into practice;
• Create margin in your life: discuss as a couple and in family what you need to say “No” to;
• Attend a spiritual retreat such as a Cursillo or Walk to Emmaus weekend;
• Reflect on life experiences through the lens of Scripture for areas of opportunity;
• Engage battle buddies / men in your circles that will challenge you spiritually.

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and Your call to disciple my family. I confess that my discipling as a dad has been more in line with substitute gods than with You as the one True God. Forgive me. I do want to be Your disciple. Grant me strength to be more selfless and sacrificial with my time. Give me the power of discernment in taking up the cross You have prepared me to take up. And help me keep my eyes focused on You every step of this journey as a discipling dad. That is the dad You call me to be, and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.

A faithful father takes up his cross and disciples the next generation.