Fathers Day 2020

Love God

God commands that we love Him with all our heart, soul and might. One may ask, “How can I be commanded to love anyone? Isn’t love an emotion?” Love is not an emotion but a matter of the will. It is something that you choose. You cannot have loving emotions for someone, but you can still love them. For example, Jesus tells us to love our enemies. This is not something that we necessarily are emotionally inclined to do. However, you can still look out for their best interest and pray for them.

Love requires action. The action required is the doing the best for the object of your love. God loves us and works all things for our good. Even when we are unlovable.

28 And we know that [a]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Rom. 8:28

God uses the blessings and the trials in our lives to work together for our good. As a father we must do the same thing for our kids. We must use all things in their life for their ultimate good.

How do you love God?

You make a choice. You can either love God or the world. It is that simple.

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

To love the world is to love yourself more than you love God. A man must chose to love God rather than himself. Jesus gives us the instruction on how to do this.

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23

Denial of self is not only critical for following Christ, but also for being a good father. A good Father sacrifices his own desires for the well being of their child. For example, when we have to discipline our children it is hurtful to us. But we must be hurt in order to keep them from something worse in the future. Another example is giving up your own ambitions in order to spend time with your children. You may have to forgo a promotion in order to have the time necessary for your children. (Kamal Example)

You see God gave His very best for us, so we could have relationship with Him. He gave His only Son to die for our sins so we could be forgiven and have a right relationship with Him. This is true love!

Know God’s Word

Fathers must capture God’s word i their hearts. To know God’s word is to know God. He reveals himself in His Word.

1. God Is Spirit

God is a spirit being. Jesus described God in this manner.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

2. God Is Light

The Bible also says that God is light.

This is the message we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).

3. God Is Love

The Bible says that God is love.

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (1 John 4:16).

4. God Is A Consuming Fire

The Bible also describes God as a consuming fire.

For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).

It is important to know God because you learn who God is, learn His commandments, Obey His Commandments, and Teach your children the Word of God.

How can you live a life pleasing to God if you don’t know what He expects?

How can you be obedient to His commands if you don’t know what they are?

How can you teach your children the Word of God if you don’t know it?

A father that has no love of God will not read his word. A father that does not read his word will not be obedient to His word. A father that is not obedient to God’s word will not teach it to his children.

Conversely

A father that loves God will hunger for God’s Word. A father that hungers for God’s word will study God’s word. A man that studies God’s Word will obey God’s word. A man that obeys God’s word will teach his children God’s word by instruction and example.

Teach God’s Word

The greatest gift a father can give his children is the Word of God. It is not the gifts you give them at Christmas or Birthdays. It is the teaching of God’s word that will help them navigate the tumultuous waters of life.

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. Prov. 22:6

Our children do not stay children forever. There comes a point where we have to push them out of the nest so they can learn to fly on their own. The best way to teach them to soar like an eagle is to teach them the word of God.

The word of God has truth to address every situation your child will ever face. It is important to know that they know how to find answers in God’s word. Fathers that is your job!

One of the cruelest things you can do is send your child out into a wicked world without knowing the word of God.

The best thing that we can do is send our children out into a wicked world so they can lead people to Christ.

Live God’s Word

Whether you believe it or not the name you make for yourself will follow your children. If you live a life loving the Lord and walk according to His word you will be respected and prepare a foundation for which your child can grow. If you live a life apart from God and for your self, your life will be reflected on your children. They will not have a solid foundation on which to build their lives. They will have to repair the name.

This is why Deuteronomy says to live it in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. The way we live our lives matters to our children. They will live to a certain degree the way you lived. How do you want your children to live? Then live that way!