During Old Testament days, kings were the most powerful people on earth. They were in charge of their people and their kingdom. They determined the way that people would act and what God they would worship. There are many examples of good and evil kings from this time. The tradition of the times was for the king to be replaced, at his death, by his son. The son would commonly following in his Dad's footsteps. If his father was good he would be good, but if his father was evil then his actions were evil. The fathers set the example for their sons to follow.
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been.
1 King 15:1-3
In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother's name was Maakah daughter of Abishalom. Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done.
1 King 15:9-11
We, as fathers, must understand that God expects us to live a righteous life in front of our kids. We are to set the example for our kids to follow. God expects us to live right and will hold our kids responsible for our actions. It says in Exodus 20, that God punishes the children for the sins of the father for up to four generations. But it also says that God will show love to the children of those who love God and keep his commandments. This gives us fathers the opportunity to set a good example for our kids and create a lasting legacy. The future is determined by our actions.
"You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:4-6
We need to examine the way we act as fathers to our children. The best part about this examination is that if we determine that we have not lived up to the standard set before us by God, we can change. We must understand that we must be lifelong learners in order to be great dads. God wants us to strive to be perfect as a father. We must understand that perfection is hard to obtain. To become perfect we must go to our heavenly father to get what we need to be good fathers. Daily prayer and Bible reading will help you to understand the example that God set for us to follow. God is ready and able to train us to be the best father we can be. If we follow his example, we will set a great example for our children.
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Be like our heavenly father
Matthew 5:48
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17
This Week's Challenge
This week, we challenge all fathers to examine the example they are setting for their family. Fathers need to look the way they act as fathers to their children. They need to make sure that they are living a righteous life in front of their children. They need to follow God's example by reading his word, and praying on a daily basis. They should also seek additional material, like that mentioned below, to become the best father they can be.
Last year, Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick released the film Courageous. This is great film that shows the importance of fathers in their children's lives. In this film, the main character challenges the men around him to take the resolution. This resolution helps us to identify the area that we must work on to become the father and husband that God wants us to be. The resolution for men is a great resource to add to daily prayer, and daily bible reading. Please visit the link below to learn more about the Courageous movie and the Resolution for Men.