Church Bulletin
A Good Father
"A Good Father is one of the most unsung, not- praised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society," Billy Graham once said.
A good father takes care of business. He provides food, shelter and physical and emotional security for his family. But that's just the beginning. Within the context of marriage, he loves his wife and his children -- and he makes sure that he regularly expresses that love in front of the family.
A good father loves his children unconditionally. If he's at home, he hugs them -- every day. He says the words "I love you"-- every day, several times if possible. That's not touchy-feeling; it's what your children need, even when they become obnoxious teens and pretend they don't.
Read 1 Corinthians 13th chapter to see what God's love looks like in action.
A good father teaches his children right from wrong. He disciplines them firmly but not abusively. "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord," the Apostle Paul counsels in Ephesians 6:4. Your temporary, God-given authority over your children doesn't give you the right to dominate or manipulate them. A good father leads and encourages his children. He is available all the time, regardless of the hour or circumstance, regardless of how far his "child" has advanced into adulthood. He spends time. He pays attention. He listens to his children, and expects his children to listen to him. He offers constructive criticism, sometimes strongly worded, but never in the form of condemnation. He issues orders, but is open to appeal.
Most of all, a good father models what it is to be a man, a husband, a father and a child of God. "My father didn't tell me how to live," recalled one thankful son. "He lived -- and let me watch him do it."
After messing up, a dad used to say, half-seriously, "Don't do as I do; do as I say." Sorry, but that won't work. If you claim to follow Christ, follow Him. Worship Him. Serve Him. Serve His church. Do the things He said to do in this life in plain sight of your children -- not for show but because you mean it.
Do your kids see you loving your neighbor? Do they see you making friends with hurting sinners and winning them for the Kingdom of God? Do they see you praying for the nations and taking action to get the Gospel to the lost world? Do they see you shedding a tear for the things that break the heart of God? If you don't, odds are they won't.
A good father frequently fails to live up to these standards. But he doesn't give up. He asks for forgiveness from God and his family and presses ahead with the help of the Holy Spirit.