Resolve to let God rule

So, remembering that God our Father is who gives us strength to be earthly fathers, we can find a few applications in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, reading them through the lens of fatherhood.

You’re familiar with New Year’s resolutions. I want to offer some Father’s Day resolutions.

Jesus’ familiar beatitudes begin: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

To be “poor in spirit” means to know our need of God, that we cannot live and succeed without his help. It means to admit that he is the I Am and I am the I Am Not.

Our culture stands on self-sufficiency. We can meet our needs if we just put in enough hours, take enough classes, and consult enough experts.

God knows better. He knows that our children are eternal souls entrusted to our care.

So here’s the first Father’s Day resolution: “I will seek the help of God daily.”

The second beatitude states, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

The “mourning” to which Jesus refers is primarily spiritual. Mourning for sin, failures, and shortcomings before God. It means to admit that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, myself among them.

Our culture stands on self-assurance. Our culture says we’re automatically good fathers if we can provide financially for our family, but this isn’t true.

God knows that our children will become what we are, so we must spend time every day confessing our sins, and staying right with God.

Here’s the second Father’s Day resolution: “I will confess my sins daily to God.”

Jesus continues: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

The Greek word translated “meek” meant strength under submission. Biblically, it means to be under the control of the Holy Spirit, to obey the command to be “filled [or controlled] by the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

Our culture is self-reliant. So long as our finances are healthy, our jobs productive, our health good, our future is secure.

God knows that we do not possess the wisdom, patience, or strength we need, that we must have the Spirit’s power.

So here’s our third Father’s Day resolution: “I will submit daily to the control of the Holy Spirit.”

The fourth beatitude: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).

Our culture judges only our actions. So long as we are righteous in the eyes of our peers, we’re doing all we must.

But God sees our hearts. He knows that our children so often do what we do.

So here’s our fourth Father’s Day resolution: “I will think and act by the word of God.”

Does anything need to change in your life as a result of these resolutions so far?

How is the Lord convicting you today?