TURNING THE HEARTS
OF FATHERS AND CHILDREN
WHAT IS A FATHER
What is a father?
According to the Hebrew, one word interpreted "father" in the
Old Testament is 'ab. It's the root of
where we get the New Testament word, Abba.
Ab can mean a biological father of an individual, God as father of his
people, the head of a family or household, a patron of a family such as a
grandfather or great grandfather, or a founder of a family or group. In all such cases, it represents a head of
sorts.
We're living in a society where there is a lack of
fatherhood. Let's just look at the
biological sense of the word. If you
trace the historical data of Americans over the last 100 years, there are far
more babies being born that either don't know who their father is or have been
abandoned by their father. In other
cases, there are children who know their father but their father is still
lacking in the quality of fatherhood.
This is a deep and long subject so I can't get into all of it here at
one time, so I just want to address a few things about godly fatherhood. It's never too late to allow God to change
us!
TURNING THE HEARTS OF
FATHERS AND CHILDREN
God said in the book of Malachi, in the last days he would
begin to turn the hearts of fathers and children toward each other. As fathers, whether biological, spiritual or
relational in some way, we need to first look to God as our perfect
example. If you've failed as a father,
it's not too late to look at the perfect father and allow him to change us into
his image. It's never too late to
receive forgiveness and start fresh and new.
This applies to biological, spiritual and relational. First look at God and his example and then
look toward those you have fathered or are fathering and begin to allow the
Holy Spirit to help you in fatherhood.
If you should be fathering and aren't, begin to look toward your
children as the father God has created you to be (not the father you currently
are.) Remember, first look to God and
then to your children, whether biological, spiritual or relational in some
way.
GOD OUR PERFECT FATHER
God is the perfect father and has perfect ways. We may need
correction but if we want to be successful as fathers he is our best example.
Therefore, let us look to him. Look at what the book of Hebrews has to say
about his fatherhood. It says earthly
fathers (some not all) have done their best but God for our profit:
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who
corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we
not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they
indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He
for our profit, that we may be partakers
of His holiness.
I challenge fathers everywhere to first look to the perfect
father as your example and then look to your children, taking into account what
is best for them!
My prayer:
Father, I come to you in Jesus name.
I ask you to make me the best parent or grandparent I can be. Show me
your wa you in Jesus name. I ask you to
make me the best parent or grandparent I can be. Show me your ways and your
truth and mold me into your image.
Father help me to know wisdom and revelation concerning the welfare of
my children, whether biological, spiritual or relational, in Jesus precious name
I pray, Amen!
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