Today we continue the devotional Father Like The Father. I appreciate God’s leading and sorting of articles so that the topics and instruction we can get around be the dads are on point and speak the truth in love. I have been blessed with my interaction with them as they gave guidance and support for my posts. Bible.com introduces the devotional like this:
Throughout Scripture, God is called Father. Yet how does He father His children? What parenting principles can we learn by observing His interactions with humanity? This seven-day study will examine key Scriptures which will help you to father like the Father.
Father Like The Father
Today’s devotional connects with
‘Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. ‘
Genesis 1:29
‘ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” ‘
Luke 11:11-13
Today’s scripture points us to a good Father, our Heavenly Father as an example of how to be the dads He created, purposed, and wants us to be. We see how our Heavenly Father provides for us, He gives us seeds to plant and the produce of those seeds to eat. God knows we have need of both spiritual and physical food to be able to survive and thrive. God even provides produce so that the food the seeds produce contain the seeds needed to plant again and plant more. We see in Luke how God even challenges us to be the dads when He shows His goodness and how He is available and will give us what we have need of. So let’s not be the dads who would give a snake to our kids when they ask for a fish. Let’s not be the dads who would give our kids a scorpion when they ask for an egg. Let’s be dads who know what our kids need and follow the example of our Heavenly Father in loving them and giving our kids good gifts. Let’s raise the bar by being the dads who will pursue God’s goodness and God’s example in how we will love on and treat our kids. Let’s raise the bar and invite the Holy Spirit into our lives and every situation so that we can have the wisdom we need and the discernment we need to be able to give our kids what they need rather than spoiling them by giving them what they want. Let’s choose to be the dads today that will glorify God in the ways we choose to live our lives and love on our wives and kids. Let’s choose to be the dads today that will bring God the praise, the honor, and the glory by shining for Jesus in the world around us. Let’s be the dads God created, purposed, and wants us to be!
Today’s devotional has been provided by Carlos Santiago and FamilyLife (more details can be found http://www.familylife.com)
Reading through today’s devotional, here are some takeaways for me:
(check out the devotional on your own too to see if you pick up other nuggets, and please share your findings in the comments)
For more information on communicating with your kids listen to, Blessing Your Child Through Your Words on FamilyLifeToday.com.
Provide
- God is the God of provision! God knows what you have need of even before you ask. Will you humble yourself enough to ask?
- ‘I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. ‘ – Philippians 4:10-13
- Let’s be the dads to live up to the calling on our lives to be the providers for our wives, our kids, our family, and our community.
- Let’s be the dads who pick up and take the responsibility of provider seriously!
- Let’s be the dads who love their wives and partner with them to ensure the family has what is needed.
- Are you a dad who organizes their life around answering the call or taking on the responsibility of providing for your family?
- Don’t miss out on everything else that being the dad means though too by getting or being consumed with providing.
- Choose to receive the message Jesus gave the religious leaders when He said:
- ‘ “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. ‘ – Luke 11:42
- ‘ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. ‘ – Matthew 23:23-24
- So let’s be the dads who are both providers and also caretakers of our family.
- We know that provision is a key element to being the dad God created us to be from His example as the ultimate provider.
- God even has the name Jehovah Jireh which means the Lord will provide.
- God provided through creation – like giving the seeds and the plants for us to be able to plant, grow, and eat.
- God provided an environment for us to be able to live and thrive as His children through creation.
- God provided a safe place for us to be able to live, thrive, and grow.
- God provided a place that will be able to meet our physical needs.
- God provides us with a way to also have a relationship with Him in order to meet our spiritual needs.
- Let’s be the dads who work to produce a safe place for our wives, kids, and family.
- Let’s be the dads who work to provide safety and food for our wives, kids, and family.
- Let’s be the dads who reflect our Heavenly Father’s love by demonstrating our live by the work we do and the provision it brings to the family.
- Let’s be the dads who grasp the full reality of providing for our wives, kids, and family though as pointed out in today’s scripture from Luke where it says:
- ‘ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” ‘ – Luke 11:11-13
- Let’s be the dads who do not overlook the spiritual needs of our kids and wives.
- Let’s be the dads who know the difference between good and evil.
- Let’s be the dads who know how to give good gifts and meet the needs of our kids.
- Let’s be the dads who don’t try to go and do it all in our own strength and on our own but let’s invite God, our Heavenly Father, into the situations so that we lead by example and show our kids and our wives our dependency on God and how He provides for us.
- Let’s be the dads who receive and share the biggest and best thing God provides us with, Himself!
- Let’s be the dads who receive Jesus into our hearts and lives.
- Let’s be the dads who walk out our lives asking the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us every step of the way.
- And just like how God provided us with Himself, we need to be the dads who give ourselves to our kids and wives too.
- We can’t be working all the time but instead we need to be spending time with and giving of ourselves to our kids and wives.
- We can’t be spending all of our time away from our families but instead we need to be the dads who spend quality and quantity time with our wives and kids.
- Let’s be the dads who provide for all of our kids needs! That goes beyond just the physical needs but also includes their spiritual and emotional needs too.
- Let’s be the dads who make the time to be with and hear from our kids so that we can see, hear, and identify their needs.
- Let’s be the dads who make the time to be with our kids so that we build a relationship with them and they are able to share their needs, their concerns, their hopes, their dreams, and their worries with us.
- Let’s not forget to do what is most important! The physical is but a small portion of what they need! Let’s be the dads who provide for their spiritual and emotional well being too.
- Are you ready to be the dad who will adjust their lives and schedules in order to make time and be present with your kids?
- Are you ready to be the dad who prioritizes time with your kids over your own personal schedule or activities?
- Let’s be the dads who provide more than just things but love and support, encouragement and hope.
- Today’s devotional calls on us to pray:
