Father Like the FatherНамуна

Communicate

What comes to mind when you think of the word father?

I recently attended a discussion on fatherhood where the speaker asked this very question. The answers were as varied as the people in attendance. As the microphone was passed around, some gave glowing, tear-filled tributes to their fathers. Others were not as kind. But whether the answers were positive or not, one thing was clear: fathers have a tremendous impact on their children.

It has been said that children grow up with the desire to either be like, or be nothing like, their father.

With so much at stake, how can we ensure that we become good fathers?

Thankfully the Bible has a lot to say on the matter. God calls himself father. Some of our best lessons on how to be a good father come from observing God interact with His children throughout Scripture.

We will examine some of these qualities over the next seven days.

Today’s passages reveal that God is a communicator. The Genesis account of creation begins with God speaking the universe into existence. It then goes on to chronicle His conversations with mankind, starting with Adam and continuing on through angels, dreams, and prophets. In later Scriptures we learn that God also spoke through his Son, Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit.

If we are to father like the Father, then we must learn to communicate—frequently.

This can be difficult for many men. The pressures of work and our various responsibilities often leave us drained. By the time we get home we often don’t want to talk. We may say little to our wives and even less to our children. We just want to find a quiet place to unwind.

While this is understandable, we dare not stay silent too long. Our children need our input. A father’s words are powerful and can often define the course of a child’s entire life. A lack of words can leave our children lost and without direction. We must take care not to give our best words to our employers and leave our wives and children with our leftovers.

What was the last thing that you said to your children? Was it a command, an expression of disapproval, or a proclamation of your love and admiration? What if those words were the last that they ever heard you speak?

Pray that God gives you the wisdom to know which words your child needs to hear from you, and the courage to speak them.

For more information on communicating with your kids listen to, Blessing Your Child Through Your Words on FamilyLifeToday.com.