Dad is a superhero to a child, at least up to a certain age. The expectations are high. Dad is to be big, strong, quick enough to catch a falling kid, simple enough to play games, skilled enough to bandage a wound and soft enough to give a hug. He coaches teams, drives to games, leads the way to church and supports all school and extra-curricular activity.

As kids move into their teen years, a dad may not be seen as super as he once was. Expectations change. In the early years of parenting, kids accept what dad says and follow his instructions. As students, late elementary or middle-school, kids are watching to see what dad does. They expect dad to lead by example.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. – Ephesians 6:4. Paul’s initial exhortation to not exasperate your children is all I heard in this verse for a number of years. I found that kids could be exasperating and felt so convicted by the first half of the verse that I stopped there. When it finally registered with me that it was my responsibility to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord, I had work to do. I needed to learn more about Jesus and my Father in Heaven by reading His word, Scripture. Then I could begin to train and instruct by offering a spiritual perspective on worldly issues. But the old adage that “kids watch what you do more than they listen to what you say,” conveys that they expect dad to lead by example, to walk the talk. To bring children up in the training and instruction of the Lord is a charge to put the armor of God on every morning.

Putting on the Armor of God:

• Belt of Truth – Read Scripture daily and live under the authority of God’s word;
• Breastplate of Righteousness – Always do what is right in God’s eyes;
• Feet Fitted – Conform to Jesus, be more Christ-like today than yesterday;
• Helmet of Salvation – Embrace fully the saving grace through Jesus the Christ;
• Shield of Faith – Position the shield to extinguish the flaming arrows of temptation and sin;
• Sword of the Spirit, the word of God – Draw the sword and wield it wisely to cut through the devil’s schemes.

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and the training and instruction it provides. I confess I have been spiritually passive as a dad and that is what my kids have seen. Forgive me. I commit to live into the expectations You have of me by putting Your armor on every day – to read and live under the authority of Your word; to do what is right in Your eyes when facing decisions; to be more like You today than yesterday; to embrace the saving grace You offer; to rebuke temptation and sin in Your strength; and to keep Your word in my mind and on my lips as I navigate through this world. That is the dad You expect me be, and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.

A faithful father meets expectations by putting on the armor of God.