As Father's Day approaches (June 21...don't forget!), the spotlight is once again on fathers and the vital role that they play in the lives of their children. The loving and steadfast presence of a father or father figure is vital to a healthy and wholesome upbringing of a child. Fathers can find biblical instruction for fatherhood in God the Father.
Here are some eternal truths:
- A father is a source. Fathers are an important source of our genetic makeup. God the Father is the ultimate source of all life, including our own.
- A father provides. Fathers find joy in giving and serving their families. In Matthew 7:11, Jesus explains this truth, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
- A father corrects. Fathers discipline their children out of love. Fathers correct wrongdoing to form children with virtue. Hebrews 12:6 says, "The Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
- A father is loving. Fathers are called to love their children. This love is to be a reflection of the eternal, steadfast love that God has for His children.
God is the source of our existence. He provides for us daily and corrects us when we sin. God also loves us unconditionally. When fathers model their own lives after that of the Lord, children's lives are transformed for generations to come.
To read more about God's model for fatherhood, click here.