Fathers have the most important
role in the life of their children. The blessing of being a father is a
great joy and with it comes great responsibility. No single individual
will have a bigger impact on his children’s life, for good or bad, than the
father.

God places great importance on fathers; in fact, He refers to himself as our
heavenly Father. God has given fathers several crucial responsibilities in the
lives of their children.

Foremost, fathers are given the responsibility to teach their children about
God:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon
your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about
them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down
and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on
your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your
gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, emphasis added)

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the
training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

You can see from the verses that the father has a responsibility to instruct
their children about God.

Also, God gives clear instructions on when and how to instruct our children.
Teaching a child about God is something a father should be doing all
day – at home, on the road, in the morning and in the evening.
Fathers are also commanded to teach in a way that does not exasperate the
child. To exasperate means to make very angry or impatient; to annoy
greatly. As fathers, we are commanded to teach in a loving and compassionate
manner. To fail to do so may lead our children to abandon God.

“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become
discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21)

God also calls fathers to lead a godly life, so that they can be a righteous
example.

“In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the
meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded
you?” tell him…The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to
fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is
the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our
God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”
(Deuteronomy 6:20, 24-25)

Our example and the life we lead has significant consequences for the lives of
our children. If we live up to the standard that God calls us to, God promises
blessings upon our children.

“May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a
thousand times and bless you as he has promised!” (Deuteronomy 1:11)

“In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them”
(Psalm 22:4)

However, a father’s failure to follow God has terrible consequences for his
children and generations beyond.

“The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving
sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the
children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation”
(Numbers 14:18)

God understands that children will naturally follow the example of their
fathers. As stated in 2 Kings, we compare the son of a godly man versus
the son of an ungodly man:

“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his
father David had done”
(2 Kings 18:3)”

“He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his fathers had done.” (2 Kings
23:32)

Thirdly, God calls fathers for responsibility in discipline. The father
is responsible to first submit to God’ discipline himself; then, to
discipline his children. A father can teach his children more by his
example of how he submits to God’s discipline than by the commands he gives.

“Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you
teach from your law”
(Psalm 94:12)

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is
not disciplined by his father?” (Hebrews 12:7)

“Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected
them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and
live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but
God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness” (Hebrews
12:9-10)

Fathers, once they understand the compassionate discipline and guidance that
God provides, should not be lax in their responsibility to discipline their
children. It is not just for obedience; fatherly discipline shows love,
provides training and protects your child’s soul.

“He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is
careful to discipline him” (Proverbs 13:24)

“Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to
his death” (Proverbs 19:18)

God rewards fathers who follow His instructions on parenting. By obeying
your heavenly Father, you will not only bless your children – you too will be
blessed.

“The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a
wise son delights in him.”
(Proverbs 23:24)

“Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like
arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is
the man whose quiver is full of them.” (Psalm 127:3-5a)

Read more at: http://www.justopenthebook.com/pathways_for_fathers.html

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About David Edmisten

David Edmisten is the President of justopenthebook.com, an
online ministry encouraging others to develop a closer relationship with God by
opening and studying His word. After
years of living in the world’s ways, this self- described “heavy metal guy” found
and accepted Jesus Christ as His savior in 2005. With God’s help, he has overcome addictions
and learned to live by faith to serve God.

After more than ten years in the financial services
industry, most recently as a Financial Advisor, David felt called by God to
leave the corporate world and start on online Christian ministry. A native Californian, David and his family
moved sight unseen to Cumming, GA
(north of Atlanta)
in 2008. David lives with his wife
Kristy and their 4 young children, where they enjoy homeschooling, outdoor
activities, music, games and family fun.
David has earned the Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation
from the College for Financial Planning and is a graduate of the University of California,
Santa Barbara. He is a member of High Tech Ministries in Atlanta and has led small
groups in men’s and financial ministries.
He enjoys playing guitar, writing, speaking, and sharing God’s
word. He is also author of the Faith
Takers blog (http://justopenthebook.com/faithtakers),
which is the journal of his walk of faith since leaving the corporate world to
follow God.Learn more at:
http://www.justopenthebook.com

http://justopenthebook.com/faithtakers

http://www.justopenthebook.com/forum

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