Saturday, June 16, 2018
Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV) Fathers … bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS
I complained to my wife that I couldn't find any Father's Day cards that I liked. Most of them were overly sentimental. They didn't do a good job of expressing the gratitude of a son for a Christian father and for the blessings that God gives children through their fathers.
The importance of fathers is expressed and stressed in the Bible: "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4 NKJV).
Fathers are to apply discipline as the spiritual leader in the home. They are to give that correction and admonition that is of the Lord, that is found in the Word. This includes especially instruction in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Christian father teaches right and wrong of course, but he especially teaches, by word and example, the forgiveness of God in Christ.
The good things that fathers do for their children and give to their children are blessings from God, for fathers and mothers are God's representatives to their children. As disciplinarians they are representatives of His holiness. As providers they are representatives of His goodness and generosity. As teachers of the Gospel they are representatives of His grace. And as representatives not only do they act toward their children on God's behalf, they also demonstrate to them who their God is and what He is like, for it is His blessings that they bring to their children.
Where there is no father, the role of father can be filled by others; the Lord provides. And finally we all have one true Father, God Himself. Jesus has made us God's own children and heirs. We have received "the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'" (Romans 8:15 NKJV). Earthly fathers may die and leave us. They may even be irresponsible and abandon us. But God is our Father forever.
-- From the "Lutheran Spokesman"
