A Father's PathBeispiel

The Most Important Lesson

If your children are younger, it may feel like they will never grow up or leave home. As your children get older, you begin to realize that your kids will not always be under your care, rules, or roof. They will go to school, spend time with friends, live independently, and begin their own career and family.

This week, we will explore some of the most important ways for fathers to mentor their children on the path of life.

In Mark chapter 12, Jesus was asked what the most important commandment in all of Scripture is. His answer was to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).

Out of all the answers He could have given, Jesus’ bottom line is a call for us to love God.

As fathers, we tend to get focused on teaching our children a wide variety of rules—things they should do and things they shouldn’t do. These rules may be very good and important. However, after a while, life can feel more like a performance than a relationship.

The most important lesson a father can teach his children is to ask himself this question: “How is what I’m about to do going to show how much I love Jesus?”

This question will help our children remember that life is about relationship, and the most important relationship we can have is with God Himself.

Your kids may not remember all the rules, but they will remember love.

Start there.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your great love for me. Help me show my children that great love so they may also know Your love. Amen.

Reflection: Do your children know you better for your rules or your love? What might need to change moving forward?