father - [fah-th
er]Father – this word conjures up so many emotions in me and I’m sure most of you too. Here is a story on the history of Father’s Day.
Some definitions of father are:
- to assume as one's own; take the responsibility of.
- a father-in-law, stepfather, or adoptive father.
- a man who exercises paternal care over other persons; paternal protector or provider: a father to the poor.
Father The position and authority of the father as the head of the family are expressly assumed and sanctioned in Scripture, as a likeness of that of the Almighty over his creatures. It lies of course at the root of that so-called patriarchal government, (Genesis 3:16; 1 Corinthians 11:3;) which was introductory to the more definite systems which followed, and which in part, but not wholly, superseded it. The father's blessing was regarded as conferring special benefit, but his malediction special injury, on those on whom it fell, (Genesis 9:25,27; Genesis 27:27-40; 49:1;) ... and so also the sin of a parent was held to affect, in certain cases, the welfare of his descendants. (2 Kings 5:27;) The command to honor parents is noticed by St. Paul as the only one of the Decalogue which bore a distinct promise, (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2;) and disrespect towards them was condemned by the law as one of the worst crimes. (Exodus 21:15,17; 1 Timothy 1:9;) It is to this well-recognized theory of parental authority and supremacy that the very various uses of the term "father" in Scripture are due. "Fathers" is used in the sense of seniors, (Acts 7:2; Acts 22:1;) and of parents in general, or ancestors. (Daniel 5:2; Jeremiah 27:7; Matthew 23:30,32;)
"It is a wise father that knows his own child." -- William Shakespeare
"Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!" -- Lydia M. Child
“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”--Henry Ward Beecher
“Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad.”- Anonymous
“It is much easier to become a father than to be one.” - Kent Nerburn
The Bible has many verses on what it means to be a father and the awesome responsibility placed on men to do their job well.
A man who loves the Word of God and Loves the Lord with all his heart and all his soul and all his mind. He would love his wife like Christ loves the Church. He would love his family UNCONDITIONALLY and would ".... provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." -Ephesians 6:4
Here are two posts I wrote for Father’s Day last year here and yesterday here that truly speak of the amazing job my husband Scott does in this area! that truly speak of the amazing job my husband Scott does in this area! I am eternally grateful God is using Scott to show me what a “real” father looks like. I sadly didn’t have a relationship with my father most of my life. He unfortunately walked away from me again once I took Jesus into my heart. I praise God that He is unlike my earthly father in every sense of the word. (One of my dear friends Kim wrote this post about being a real father – take a moment to read it here. Share it with your husbands and encourage them!)
I remember the first time I read the following letter and it spoke so deeply to my heart. I cherish this letter still to this day. Why? Read it and see…
No matter what our relationships were like or are like with our earthly fathers, we are all blessed to be loved by our perfect Father in heaven. There is nothing any of us can do that will cause Him to stop loving us perfectly! There is nothing we need to do to make Him love us either. Nothing!
We as earthly parents will fail many times throughout raising our children. We will say things we don’t mean. We will say things that don’t honor God or our children. We will do things that will have them question our love for them. We will let them down…in one way or another. Even so, we can all thank God that He will equip us perfectly to do our job well! All we must do is stop working at being a good parent and let Him be their perfect Father through us.
The greatest gift we can all give our children is to seek God with our full hearts, mind, body and soul! To bathe our homes and families in prayer! To pray for our husbands to lead us faithfully and diligently to God and His best for our families! To teach them His way and Truth! To speak His words of love more each day and not settle for anything less than God’s best for them! To lay down our lives for them – not the way the world does it (letting the children rule the home) as God commands us – to serve them well as we raise them to be humble, faithful servants willing to lay down their lives for others too!
I want to take a moment and thank every man that is called father. I want to honor them by acknowledging the awesome responsibility before them. I want to honor them by acknowledging all the sacrifices they make each and every day to ensure we and their children are provided for, protected, prayed for and are taught the truths about God! Thank you.
I want to take a moment and acknowledge the legacy left behind by all the military who will not be with their families this year. May God comfort each of you and hold you close to Him! I pray the same for all the families who lost their father’s and husbands this year no matter the cause. May their memories bring comfort to each of you and help encourage you to draw close to God!
With much love and wishing you all a very blessed Father’s Day!
p.s. If anyone would like a copy of the Father’s Love Letter let us know and a copy will be emailed to you in PDF format.
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