Dear Dads: The World Needs What God has put in You!
He gets up every morning to pray and do his devotions, and afterward ensures the trash gets taken out. He goes to work early and sometimes stays late. His phone is put aside the moment he walks in the door. When the house needs repairs or the internet goes down, he handles it. He talks with our boys about finances, relationships, and God, and he keeps his word and fulfills his promises.
I can’t express how blessed I am to have such an amazing husband, and our boys are blessed to have such a great dad. Our family and the world need what God has put in him.
Let’s face it. Today’s world doesn’t give dads enough credit. Father’s Day doesn’t get half as much hype as Mother’s Day, and let’s be honest, Valentine's Day and anniversaries are for the ladies. Being a woman and a mother has its unique challenges, but so does being a husband and a father.
The number one reason a father’s role is so important is that children often formulate their view of their Heavenly Father based on their earthly dad. Those are some really big shoes to fill. God sent John the Baptist before Jesus “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children…to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke 1:17 ESV) A father prepares a child’s heart for God either by leading them toward a loving father or by creating barriers they must overcome.
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” - Psalm 103:13
The Bible also calls for husbands to love their wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). The prior paragraph in Ephesians tells women to submit to their husbands, which tends to get a lot of women’s hackles up, but we’re not asked to give our lives or die for our spouse.
It’s not always the big sacrifices that make a good father. Sometimes it’s small decisions and quiet strength. Take Joseph from the Bible. After hearing from God in a dream, Joseph chose to marry a supernaturally pregnant Mary and become the earthly father and protector of Jesus. After another dream, this one of warning, he acted decisively, packing their things and moving Jesus and Mary to Egypt to protect the baby Jesus from King Herod’s command to kill all boys under the age of two. Joseph is a great example of a father’s devotion and responsibility.
Jairus provides us with a fatherly example of humble faith. He was a ruler of a synagogue, but also a father. He dropped everything to seek Jesus’s help when his daughter fell ill. Pressing through a crowd, he humbly threw himself at Jesus’s feet, imploring him to come to his house to heal his little girl (Luke 8: 40-42).
Zebedee was the father of the Sons of Thunder, James and John, who became Jesus’s disciples. He was a fisherman, and Biblical references to boats and hired servants suggested he was good at his trade and taught his sons to be fishermen as well. Even though he’s not mentioned much in the Bible, he’s a great fatherly example of hard work, dedication, and legacy-building. He also understood the importance of letting his boys pursue their passion for following Jesus.
Society may tease men for their dad bods and play commercials that make them appear ignorant and like lazy couch potatoes, but fathers have a God-given mission and should be held in respect for the responsibilities and challenges they are asked to face. Ladies, I ask that we don't stand by while these insults are hurled, but refute them in Jesus' name. Encourage the men in your lives to step into their calling and live out their Godly purpose. Help fathers draw out greatness in our kids as they grow up to be Godly men and women.
While my earthly father is no longer in this world to hug and thank, I want to express my gratitude to all the fathers out there who are making a difference in their children’s lives and for the Kingdom. Happy Father’s Day!
The world needs what God has put in you.
