Wednesday, June 17, 2015

What is required of a man to be a good father? Part III

Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: "I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,' He said, 'you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'”  1 Kings 2:1-4

This Sunday is Father’s Day and in honor of fathers, we are focusing on David’s last words to his son spoken upon his deathbed.  David had not lived a stellar life, and he certainly had not been a shining example to his children of what an obedient Christian father looked like.  In spite of his mistakes, David still had some important words of wisdom to shared. 

What is required of a man to be a good father?
From David’s last words we learn what is required of a man to be a good father; the first four are Presence, Purpose, Probity, and Passion.  Other traits required to be a good father are:
Patience - We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
  • The development of character and strength takes time.
  • The one who understands weakness will help others overcome.
  • Criticism is not equipping.  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
  • If a man is going to be effective in raising a son there must be more encouragement and praise than criticism and condemnation.  It takes someone who is committed to make the impact that is required. 
Persistence and Perseverance - Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, Romans 15:5 
  • This is the quality of faithfulness that separates men in fatherhood.
  • Too many children have had their parents give up on them just when they needed them most.
  • A good father knows he may have to step back to let consequence teach a lesson but he never steps out of their life.
Prayer - The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:6b
  • Simply put, a father must go to the Father to learn to father.
  • It is through the eyes of God that a man truly sees the needs and potential of his children.
  • All of the qualities outlined above are impossible to maintain apart from the power of prayer.
Basically, as a father, you must draw A Line in the Sand – "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."   Joshua 24:15
This is a Personal Choice – You must make this YOUR CHOICE! 
This is a Serious Choice – You must realize the importance of this choice! 
This is a Constant Choice – You must make this choice new every day.
This is an Urgent ChoiceMake the change now! It is not too late to change but do it now so that no more time is wasted.  No matter what, you can still make a difference. 

Scripture to Claim:
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11  

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