Dad Duty

Follow Along with the Message

"For I have chosen him (Abraham), so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him" (Genesis 18:19).

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).

     "Paternity is a career imposed on you one fine morning without any inquiry as to your fitness for it.  That is why there are so many fathers who have children but so few children who have fathers"  (Adlai Stevenson).

ABRAHAM WAS A FATHER

     His name meant father.  God called Him to "command" his children, to influence, to lead them toward a Spiritual vision.  God's goal for the human race       is moral and Spiritual people.

     Micah 6:8.  Every child is to have a dad as coach/encourager/example.

EVERY DAD HAS TWO TOOLS

     "Bring them up"  (to feed up, to nourish forward), ektrepho

     "Discipline"  (correction and consequences), paideia

     "Instruction"  (to put in the mind), nouthesia 

     Deuteronomy 6:7  "You shall talk of them (God's laws) when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way."

     "Do not provoke your children to anger."

TO BE A DAD, YOU NEED TO BE A SON

     "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).

     "Of the Lord."  Your children will hear the Lord's voice in your example and words.  Moms empowered, too.

     "Let not many be teachers."  Not true in the home.  Every Mom!  Every Dad!

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The prodigal Dad did his job.  Great gift!

     "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6).