Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of children is their fathers.
Within the church assembly that I am part of, I am considered a father in the house. I take this role that has evolved throughout the years seriously. We are in a time when fathers are needed to father a generation of lost, confused, and desperate people. I am not just talking about young people. Numerous people of all ages struggle with a sense of being deserted by a father or a fatherly influence, thus causing feelings of lifelong loss. Thank God, the Lord will never stop fathering us. Prov. 3:12 For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
Our church offices offer countless amounts of programs and studies directed at helping people resolve their father issues. The resulting problems that have come about after the implementation of these well-meaning programs are that we have created a multitude of foster children rather than children who know their God. Some of these ministry teams have become foster parents and sloganeers rather than spirit-led fathers who use discipline and grace. Thank God for foster parents, but as my friend, Clay, who was a foster parent said, “We are given responsibility for the children but no authority to raise them to know what is right from wrong. They want us to help these children become good citizens without the tools of discipline. All this does is create another fatherless generation.” Sad to say, but this has become the politically correct way to deal with these issues.
Interestingly, so many of the problems affecting our youth happened because they had rejected their father’s discipline and direction. After running away they went looking for a father image to fill the gap that is missing in their hearts. They run from a father to go and look for a father. I’m not saying all fathers are great examples of good parenting. A lot of problems are the result of fathers who never had a good example to follow and in some cases, are men who were brutalized by their so-called fathers. Eze. 18:2b The fathers eat sour grapes, but it is the children’s teeth that have become blunt.
I find it insidious that Satan is so hell-bent on causing discord between fathers and their children. The enemy of our soul knows that fathers who walk in righteousness are a threat to the kingdom of darkness. Our heavenly father has promised to bring the children home and we need to be praying into this promise on a national level. Malachi 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
God’s promise to reconcile the hearts of children to their fathers and the father’s hearts to their children cannot come fast enough. Part of our Lord Jesus’ mandate is to reconcile the hearts of man to our heavenly Father. Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Being a good father is God’s idea. He wants us close to His heart so that we know what real love is.
I am a father and a grandfather. I have been blessed to see my sons become fathers. Prov. 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of children is their fathers. As hard as it is to fathom, God loves my sons more than I do, and the Lord can be counted on to continue to be a father to us all in His love. The best part for me is that my sons are good fathers and to have witnessed that is a blessing worth living for.
It is still true that it takes a village, community, and neighbourhood to raise children. It is time for the men of our land to man up and put away the daddy issues that have been used as an excuse to become an absentee father. This generation needs leadership and the blessing of fathers to be spoken upon the children. As men who love the Lord, let us declare over all the children whom we know the blessings of God’s favour. Num. 6:24 May the LORD bless you and protect you; 25 may the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 may the LORD look with favor on you and give you peace. Hey dad, time to man up!
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Amen Ian
You have been a good father in the church and home. Keep blessing the saints.
Thank You Norm, 1 John 2:13 says: "I write to you fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning". Now is the time for Godly fathers to demonstrate God and His ways.