As I continue this journey of blogging about and for dads through daily devotionals I have been able to find, connect with the publishers, and get approval to share my thoughts and insights from reading them, I have found this dad devotional called The Daring Dad. The image that goes along with it is so telling as it shows the title as The DARE-ING Dad. I am excited to see what dares come out of this devotional that can help us be the dads God needs us to be. The introduction to the blog that captured my attention and drew me to reach out to the publisher was:
Being a dad is difficult. You have so much responsibility. So much to do. Many of us put being a dad on the back burner – until we find ourselves in a place we don’t want to be. I dare you to be a great dad.
The Daring Dad from Plans on Bible.com
Today’s devotional is connected to the verses from God’s Word found in:
‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: ‘
Philippians 2:3-5
‘You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ‘
Galatians 5:13
‘Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”’
Mark 10:35-45
‘When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. ‘
John 13:12-17
Happy Today everyone. For me, it is early Sunday morning, and am being touched by God’s Word and what He is saying to me through His Word and how I am to live my life in order to be the dad He called and created and purposed for e to be. How about you? Are you ready to be the dads God created you to be? Today’s verses get kicked off helping us do a gut check, checking our purpose and reasons to get started. God’s Word tells us that there is nothing that we should be doing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. God’s Word doesn’t stop there but instead gives us direction into how we should be living when He tells us that we should be humble and value others above ourselves. We shouldn’t be looking at or after our own self-interest but instead, we should be looking after the interest of others. So let’s pause before we act or respond, getting into the same mindset as Jesus so that in our relationship with others we will speak, listen, and act appropriately.
God’s Word continues to speak to us about how those who have been set free are free indeed and how we should choose to live. We are now free from sin and the penalty of sin thanks to Jesus and inviting Him into our hearts as Lord and Savior. So as such being free, we shouldn’t abuse the freedom by indulging in the sinful ways of man but instead be living in and by the Spirit. By living by the Spirit we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The sinful nature of the flesh is contrary to the Spirit and vice versa. They are in conflict with one another and as such we shouldn’t be trying to live out our lives doing whatever we want but instead we should be living our lives in alignment with the flesh. By living by the Spirit, we aren’t under the law. Have you ever considered what the acts of the flesh look like or are so that you can keep an eye out and when you are being tempted you can be looking for the door, the way out that God will always provide you (1 Corinthians 10:13 confirms)? Let’s not get tempted into the acts of the flesh which include: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like (from Galatians 5:19-21). So today let’s be the dads who choose to serve one another in love!
Don’t try to put yourself in a position you don’t or shouldn’t be in. Don’t set yourself up for troubles you wouldn’t ever want. Do you really want to open a door to extreme suffering? Do you really have so much pride that you think you are all that? Do you have so much pride and confidence that you would ask to be in such a position? Jesus wants us to serve as He served. Jesus gave us an incredible model, example, and command in how to live out our lives for His glory. When we are in a position of authority Jesus wants us to be different from the ways of the world and instead of lording the power over others and exercising authority over others, we should instead become servants. Jesus is calling us to be servant leaders! He calls us to live as though we are last, least, and serve everyone. He didn’t come to be served but rather He came to give his life as the ultimate ransom for those who will accept the gift of life and freedom. Are you ready to be that dad who will serve your wife, your kids, your neighbors, and your world?
Today let’s be the dads God created and purposed for us to be. Let’s be the dads who follow Jesus’ example of service and servanthood. Let’s be the dads who are blessed because we walk our lives in imitation of Jesus by serving others.
Today’s devotional has been provided by Stonecreek Church. (more details can be found http://www.stonecreek.church)
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)
Let’s be the dads who serve our families!
- Ever had a job where you served others? How did it make you feel?
- I started as a baker and then before heading off to school and needing some extra money, I took a new job as a server at a restaurant so I could get more hours and bank some money for when I went off to school.
- Being a server was an incredible experience and getting to serve so many amazing people with great service, food, and drinks made me happy.
- Being a server who made people have an incredible visit and experience was such a pleasure.
- I remember one time doing everything I could do but the kitchen ended up mixing up on of my table’s orders. I did everything in my power to try and make things right and give them a great experience and yet they asked to speak to the manager. I was devestated and had to take a time out to compose myself. While I was sitting there that table of people left and walked by me and said thank you. They even left me a great tip. My manager told me to keep all of my tips for the day to make up for the mixup in the back. It was incredible how even in the face of adversity when we do the right thing and serve people right, it is noticed and rewarded.
- Those jobs where I started before graduation and then even getting to start my post degree work on the phones doing technical support and serving people has set me up to love serving others.
- Even today where I work I live to serve my employees as well as my peers and coworkers in order that our customers get the best experience we can give them.
- As I think about this and continue to read today’s devotional I am feeling convicted that I don’t serve my family as good as I should. To be the dad I need and should be, I need to serve my wife first, my kids second, and everyone else after that. It kind of reminds of a time when I had to do a reset on my priorities becase I wasn’t living them right. We need to put first things first! For me that means God in the top position and then my wife and then my kids. Everything else is after than which means nothing should get a priority higher than four.
- To be the dads we shouldn’t be demanding to be served but instead be serving our wife and kids.
- To be the dads we should be following Jesus’ example and serving our family out of our love for them and the overflow of Jesus’ love for us.
- To be the dads we shoudn’t come home and think we should just kick back, relax and be served!
- To be the dads we need to make a shift to serving our top priorities! Serve God! Serve our wife! Serve our kids!
- To be the dads we need to giving the best of ourselves to our family!
- To be the dads we need to be, we need to make sure we have the time and energy to be able to bless our family.
- Jesus who came to this earth modeled servanthood throughout scripture.
- Turning water into wine – served at a wedding
- Served bread and fish to the 5000+ people
- Served the widow
- Served the orphan
- Served the disciples by washing their feet just hours before He would give up His life.
- Served us all by giving His life on the cross so we could be restored and reconciled to God and with God.
- How are you doing when it comes to serving as the dad?
- Do you serve your family?
- Do you offer to make dinner?
- Do you offer to go get the groceries?
- Do you offer to vacuum the house?
- Do you put the kids to bed?
- Let’s be the dads who want to be more like Jesus and so choose to serve our family more often!
- Today’s devotional closes with a DARE, are you ready to be the dad and take up this dare?
