Give them Jesus

If you think you can follow all of these principles perfectly . . . you can’t.

Neither can I.

There’s something missing from what we’ve been talking about. The truth is, as fathers, we can’t do it all. We will mess up. If you feel a crushing weight of responsibility, just know that God knows you can’t do it perfectly and gives you grace.

That being said, what’s the best gift we can give our children?

While our time, energy, correction, love, and integrity are all important, they aren’t the best gift we can give them.

The best gift we can give them is Jesus.

Jesus and his disciples are in Capernaum, a booming fishing city on the northern edge of the Sea of Galilee. As our story opens, “a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live’” (Matthew 9:18). This was a synagogue ruler, the most significant religious authority in the city. Luke’s gospel tells us that his name was Jairus and that his daughter was twelve years old (Luke 8:42).

Jesus told them, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but asleep.” They laughed and mocked him (Matthew 9:24), but he put them outside, took the girl by the hand, and raised her back to life (Matthew 9:25). This was a miracle as great as the raising of Lazarus and his own resurrection.

What does our miracle teach us today?

It shows us that the best gift a father can give his family is to bring them to Jesus.

This father, the pastor of the largest synagogue in Galilee, “knelt” before this itinerant Galilean rabbi and entrusted his daughter to his care. The best thing I can do for my wife and sons is to bring them to Christ.

What does your family need today? Financial help? Encouragement? Healing? Guidance? Give them to Jesus.

Pray for them, today and every day.

Know that your heavenly Father’s strength will sustain you as a father today.