Sunday, 21 June 2009

• Do Fathers Know Their Place As Set by The Father?

  June 21, 2009 is Father's Day, a day of symbolic recognition to all fathers. Like me, some of us have father's that have gone on to another place. Others have fathers that are in their lives, good ones and bad ones. And, then there are those who don't know where their fathers are or those who only see them during scheduled visitations.

  Did you know that Fathers were predestined by the Father, to be the anchor of the family, the rock as it is known? This is a divine assignment and is one that is intended to be fulfilled and taken seriously. Yet in many instances, sometimes due to circumstances out of their control, fathers have failed to carry out God's orders concerning the family. Often when this happens, mothers struggle to make the best of the situation financially and morally.

  But, I have to wonder whether or not fathers really know and understand their purpose in life or the rift that follows when they disobey God. It seems that they minimize their purpose by focusing on what they feel is a comfortable. Maybe it's easier for the father to ignore the danger that awaits fatherless families. The father is supposed to be the protector, the head of the household, the foundation. So if father leaves, the family is exposed to the evil one. The evil one knows that a broken family is vulnerable to dysfunction. That is why God told us that the family that prays together, stays together. Too many of us don't believe this any more. That's too bad.
  

  In Exodus 20:5, God says, "You should not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."

  Here the Lord is speaking about disobedience and sin, specifically sin concerning The Ten Commandments, which were established by God to provide to us standards of moral living.  Concerning marriage, if we are going to be more like Him, we would strive to be slow to anger, and we would be forgiving, and we would love others unconditionally. Honoring these commandments would keep us strong and make us value all relationships, especially family relationships.

  When a father leaves his family, He makes God angry. Biblically speaking, the son would never leave the Father, and the Father would never leave the son. But, what is it about man that makes him abandon his family? How do you get to a place in your life, where it feels ok to dispose of your family in exchange for more of the world?

  'Father' is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible in the heavenly sense and in the biological sense. There is a significance associated with a father that represents honor. This honor should never be taken lightly. Actually, fathers are so important that God gave them the same identity as He. Our Father which art in heaven, gave us fathers on here on earth. They are predestined to be leaders and protectors of their families. This destiny should never been taken for granted.

  So, there is the Father and there are the fathers. When you know the difference, you know what it means to be a father. Following are just a few of many verses, where father is mentioned in the bible. When we think about Father's Day, we should also think about the Father and about his expectations of fathers.

  • Genesis 2:24  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
  • Genesis 17:4  You will be the father of many nations.
  • Proverbs 10:1 A wise son brings joy to his father.
  • Isaiah  9:6  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
  • Matthew 15 : 4 Honor your Father and mother'
  • Luke 12:53 Father against son and son against father,
  • John 6: 44 The father who sent me draws him,
  • Romans 4:11 He is the father of all who believe.
  • Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is his father's ruin,
  • 2 Corinthians 6:18 I will be a father to you,
    

  When you think about Father's Day, do you think about the Father? Is the father that you know, all that God wants him to be? Does it even matter to you? Lately I find myself wondering if all of this that we are doing, is even worthy of God's time. The things we talk about, the things we write about, the holidays we acknowledge and the things we do, are they worthy? Should they even be associated with the Father? Sure we often capture the attention of an audience and in some cases we even capture a featured status. But, I wonder if God is as captivated as some of us are, about our fathers. 

  Father's Day is about the Father first, and then it becomes about biological fathers.  You know we don't have a lot of time left, though we live as if we do, so we need to tell our fathers about the love of Christ and about what it really means to be a good father. It doesn't matter where your father is, if you're a Christian, you owe it to The Father to call upon your father and be what The Father wants you to be to Him. That would involve you praying for Him. That would involve you forgiving him, if forgiveness is needed. And lastly, that would involve you loving him. 

  There really is a sense of urgency, concerning our salvation; tomorrow is not promised to us. We've got to rid ourselves of self and accept the Lord as the head of our lives and then try to keep our fathers in the position of "head of the family." When the Lord is the Head, it shows.When the Lord is not the Head, it spreads.  Dysfunction, that is. 

  Fathers, Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. - Colossians 3:16-17

  What kind of man is your father?

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