Becoming A Godly Father – Day 1 – Quality of Love

This morning I went back into the plans available through Bible.com and scrolling through pages for devotionals on the subject of dads, I came across this interesting one about becoming a godly dad. I am excited to get to read and learn through the series over the next seven days and share it with you.

Today’s devotional shares the following description with us:

Some reflections about my journey, and rediscovery of the love of our Heavenly Father, since becoming a dad to my now 4 year old daughter, Amelie Snow. I pray it blesses you.

BECOMING A GODLY FATHER

Scripture from Today’s Devotional:

There is no better place to get started than in God’s Word. Start your day in God’s Word. Start your work in God’s Word. Start your family in God’s Word. Start your marriage in God’s Word. So as I get ready to dig into devotionals, I start with God’s Word before reading and hearing from today’s devotional.

Let’s be the dads who seek and meditate on the incredible quality of love God shows us! Let’s be the dads who receive the incredible quality of love God is giving us by allowing us to be named and called and counted as children of God! Let’s be the dads who choose to love and be loved based on God’s definition which we find in 1 Corinthians 13 where it says:

‘Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. ‘

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Let’s be the dads who are focused on God’s will over the will of man! Let’s be the dads who focus on God’s ways over the ways of man! Let’s be the dads who focus on loving our wives, our kids, and our neighbors based on God’s definition of love! Let’s be the dads who turn to God’s Word in order to become godly fathers!

Today’s devotional has been provided to us by About The Publisher (biblesociety.org.au).

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, please visit biblesociety.org.au.

Takeaways from Today’s Devotional:
“God Is A Good Father“

• Today’s devotional is broken out into three parts: reflection, question, and prayer.
• Let’s be the dads who know what triggers us and learn to know what triggers our wives and kids!
• Let’s be the dads who have processed how the word “father” impacts or triggers us!
• Let’s be the dads who realize the impact fathers have on the home and their kids!
• Today’s devotional speaks to this when it says:
  • “I’m mindful that for some people the word ‘father’ may trigger warm feelings and fond memories. For others, it may fill them with dread. Or somewhere in between. Whichever the case may be for you, we can agree that fathers have a tremendous impact on their children. “
• Let’s be the dads who choose to receive Jesus into our hearts and step receive the adoption into God’s family!
• Let’s be the dads who choose to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior and are transformed, the old is gone and the new has come!
• Today’s devotional speaks of this as follows:
  • “I believe that one of the most transformative revelations as we consider not only fatherhood, but our whole lives, is to fully know that we are God’s children and He is a good Father to us.“
• Let’s be the dads who look for examples of how to be fathers from God’s Word!
• Let’s be the dads who choose to love like the father example shown in the story of the prodigal or lost son:
  • ‘Then He said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them [inappropriately] said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided the estate between them. A few days later, the younger son gathered together everything [that he had] and traveled to a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and immoral living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to do without and be in need. So he went and forced himself on one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He would have gladly eaten the [carob] pods that the pigs were eating [but they could not satisfy his hunger], and no one was giving anything to him. But when he [finally] came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough food, while I am dying here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] treat me like one of your hired men.” ’ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe [for the guest of honor] and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet. And bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let us [invite everyone and] feast and celebrate; for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field; and when he returned and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. So he summoned one of the servants and began asking what this [celebration] meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But the elder brother became angry and deeply resentful and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. But he said to his father, ‘Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never neglected or disobeyed your command. Yet you have never given me [so much as] a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this [other] son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you slaughtered that fattened calf for him!’ The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was [as good as] dead and has begun to live. He was lost and has been found.’ ”’ Luke 15:11-32
• Let’s be the dads who choose to love as the father explained in Psalm 68 so that even those who are without a dad have a dad stand in who loves and cares for them!
  • ‘A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. ‘ Psalms 68:5
• Let’s be the dads who choose to love like the caring father who knows their wife and kids intimately!
  • ‘ “So do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed [at the judgment], or kept secret that will not be made known [at the judgment]. What I say to you in the dark (privately), tell in the light (publicly); and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops [to many people]. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two little sparrows sold for a copper coin? And yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered [for the Father is sovereign and has complete knowledge]. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. ‘ Matthew 10:26-31
• Let’s be the dads who run to our lost kids and embrace their necks when they turn around and come home!
• Let’s be the dads who see our kids and their friends and realize when we need to step in and be dads to kids whose dads are missing or gone!
• Let’s be the dads who are present and invested in the lives of our kids, knowing them and loving them!
• Let’s be the dads who decide to live our lives as dads based on who our Heavenly Father is and what He is like!
• Today’s devotional closes with a question for us to ponder:
  • “How much of the way we see our Heavenly Father is based on our perception of our earthly one, rather than what the Bible says? “
• Today’s devotional closes with the following prayer for us to join in:
  • “Heavenly Father, I am grateful to be your child, thank you for your love and that you are for us and not against us. Thank you that I can look to you and call upon you at any given moment. Thank you that you are a good, good Father. Amen“