Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Summary: Being a father is a tall order. As humans, we are beset with many hurdles and distractions. Meanwhile, God is our spiritual Father. He is never too busy for you or me.
Thank God for God! In a world where fathers often fall short, our Heavenly Father never fails! He is good, patient, kind, and loving. He is, in every way, the ideal father.
But what about our human fathers?
What about dads who exasperate their children or worse, are absent altogether? What about the kids who find themselves in dysfunctional families? What about the children?
As someone who grew up with a father who was somewhat of an enigma and often either absent or contentious, I am sensitive to this question. As I think about the many people I have known over the years who have lived similarly or worse, I wonder, “Where is God in these situations?”
Being God must be difficult. On the one hand, he wants us to be happy. As we read the description of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2-3), we see a description of two people in an idyllic place. Everything was tailored to their comfort and safety. Only when they reject God do we see that they suddenly need clothing for warmth and protection. Pain, too, was suddenly introduced into their world.
From this point in history forward, mankind has suffered from something called “free will.”
Free will is our ability to choose what we do. We can choose to obey God, or we can choose to follow our self-interest. Choosing to follow our selfish nature has consequences, and sadly, those consequences usually affect other people as well.
Imagine a world where everyone served the Lord! Unity and love would be the hallmarks of such a world. People would love others as much as they love themselves. Life would be good.
In fact, a world where God is loved above all else and we love our neighbors as ourselves, is the goal of every Christian (whether they know it or not!). And yet, we fail. Constantly. Dads, especially, struggle in today’s world to conform to all the demands and pressures life puts on them.
In the end, we all have the same problem: we live in a broken world. Broken, but not forsaken! God, the Father of all people, has sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to set things right. He has overcome the separation caused by sin, our willful rejection of God. He has given us new life. And, he has given us Himself, his Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spirit, along with God’s Holy Word, the Bible, that we are brought up “in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Application: Please, please, please … read the Bible every day.
Food for Thought: For those of us who are fathers, how do we find redemption for our shortcomings as a dad?
Broken world but not forsaken!
Broken men/women but not forsaken, God is a redeeming Father!
Well said, Brent!
Thanks for joining in today! 🙂
How do we find redemption for our shortcomings as a dad?
If we feel we fall short in our duties as a father, a good place to start in the journey to redemption is to speak your heart to the Lord.
1 John 1:9 ESV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Then speak to your child in humility. Whether we have done wrong, or feel we are doing wrong, it is important to hear what is on our children’s heart. Ultimately, it will strengthen our relationships.
James 1:19-20 ESV Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
We may only be able to plan a seed for further discussion, or we may resolve those feeling at that moment. Either way, if we submit to the Lord, speak in truth and grace to our children, and continue to walk in the light, then it is in God’s hands. He will work it to His glory.
Philippians 3:13-14 ESV Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Chris,
I love your gentle approach to this question. Another great verse that applies, which is a personal favorite, is Romans 8:28 —
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“
09-27-2023, For those of us who are fathers, how do we find redemption for our shortcomings as a dad?
When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us Ephesians 1:7–8
As Brent writes, Jesus Christ, sent by God, is our Redeemer. He has paid the price for all sin.
Ron,
Thank you! The Ephesians passage is a great one! It was our memory verse this month at Bethel. 🙂
I did think of the memory verse for the month. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness is sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1: 7 – 8).
We have a redeemer. Redemption comes “in Him.” It cost Him highly. The cost was His blood. Praise and thanksgiving are certainly in order.
Amen! 🙂
Praise and thanksgiving …
Even during the struggles. Because we know he is faithful.
Thanks to everyone. Good comments.
🙂