A Father After The Pattern Of God
📖 Ephesians 3:14-15 (KJV) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
✅ GOD IS THE PERFECT FATHER
When we think about what makes a good father, we can look at good men and learn from their example. But ultimately, the greatest example of fatherhood is God the Father himself.
Earthly fathers are imperfect. We make mistakes. Sometimes we say the wrong thing, make the wrong decision, become impatient, or fail to give our children the attention they need.
But God shows us what fatherhood is supposed to look like.
📖 Matthew 7:11 (KJV) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Jesus actually compares earthly fathers with our heavenly Father.
Therefore, as fathers, we should ask:
What can I learn about being a father by looking at God the Father?
1️⃣ A FATHER CARES FOR HIS CHILDREN
📖 Matthew 6:31-32 (KJV) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
God knows what his children need.
Before we even ask him, he knows.
That is an important characteristic of a father: a father pays attention to the needs of his family.
A father should provide.
📖 1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Food.
Shelter.
Clothing.
Security.
Education.
Guidance.
Time.
Love.
Sometimes fathers think:
“I work. I pay the bills. Therefore I have done my job.”
Those things are important, but children need more than your money.
They need their father.
God does not simply provide things for us; God cares about us personally.
📖 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
A godly father should be able to say:
“My children know that I care about what happens to them.”
2️⃣ A FATHER LEADS HIS CHILDREN IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
God did not bring Israel out of Egypt and then say:
“Good luck. Find your own way.”
He led them.
📖 Exodus 13:21 (KJV) And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Notice those words:
“To lead them the way.”
That is what fathers should do.
Our children enter this world not knowing where to go.
They don't know what is right.
They don't know what is wrong.
They don't understand relationships.
They don't understand money.
They don't understand temptation.
They don't understand the consequences of sin.
They need somebody to lead them.
The father should provide spiritual leadership.
📖 Ephesians 6:4 (KJV) And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Notice that God specifically speaks to fathers.
A father should not leave all spiritual instruction to his wife.
He should be saying:
“We are going to church.”
“We are going to pray.”
“We are going to read the Bible.”
“We are going to serve God.”
“This is what our family believes.”
“This is the direction our house is going.”
📖 Joshua 24:15 (KJV) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
The father walks down that road and tells his children to follow him.
Notice that fathers are the heads of the family, the father should be leading his family not the women? It’s a shame to see the women being the leaders of homes? Because it means that men are failing as fathers.
📖 Acts 16:30-34 (KJV) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
We see when the father gets saved he brings his whole family with him regardless, because he knows the teachings are good for them and it will prepare them for the future.
3️⃣ A FATHER CORRECTS HIS CHILDREN
Correction is not the opposite of love.
Biblical correction is an expression of love.
📖 Hebrews 12:6-7 (KJV) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
God corrects us because we are his children.
A father who watches his child heading toward destruction and refuses to intervene is not showing love.
Sometimes love says no.
Sometimes love establishes boundaries.
Sometimes love removes privileges.
Sometimes love confronts bad behaviour.
Sometimes love tells a child something that child does not want to hear.
📖 Proverbs 13:24 (KJV) He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
But correction must have a purpose.
God does not correct us because he enjoys hurting us. He corrects us for our good.
📖 Hebrews 12:10 (KJV) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
The goal of discipline is not:
“How can I make my child suffer?”
The goal is:
“How can I teach my child what is right?”
4️⃣ A FATHER TEACHES HIS CHILDREN
God doesn't only command his children; he teaches them.
📖 Psalms 32:8 (KJV) I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Fathers should be teachers.
📖 Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (KJV) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Your children will learn something from you whether you deliberately teach them or not.
They watch:
How Dad speaks to Mum.
How Dad handles anger.
How Dad treats people.
How Dad responds when money is tight.
Whether Dad keeps his word.
Whether Dad actually believes the Bible he talks about.
Whether Dad prays.
Whether Dad goes to church.
Whether Dad admits when he is wrong.
A father's life is a classroom, and his children are watching every lesson.
5️⃣ A FATHER LOVES HIS CHILDREN
This is perhaps the greatest characteristic of God our Father.
📖 1 John 3:1 (KJV) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
God doesn't merely say that he loves us.
He demonstrates it.
📖 John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God's love caused him to give.
A child should never have to spend his entire childhood wondering:
“Does my Dad actually love me?”
6️⃣ A FATHER HAS COMPASSION FOR HIS CHILDREN
A father must be strong, but strength does not mean having no compassion.
Look at how Scripture describes God.
📖 Psalms 103:13-14 (KJV) Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
God understands our weakness.
Fathers need to remember that children are children.
They are learning.
They will make mistakes.
They will misunderstand things.
They will sometimes disappoint you.
There is a time for correction, but there is also a time to put your arm around your child and
say:
“It's alright. Let's try again.”
A godly father knows the difference.
7️⃣ A FATHER ENCOURAGES HIS CHILDREN
Correction without encouragement can crush a child.
God not only tells us when we're wrong; he also encourages his people.
📖 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (KJV) As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Notice the balance:
Exhorted.
Comforted.
Charged.
A father says:
“You can do this.”
“I'm proud of you.”
“Get back up.”
“Don't quit.”
“Learn from your mistake.”
“Keep going.”
Our children should hear more from their father than simply everything they have done wrong.
Correct what needs correcting but praise what deserves praising.
8️⃣ A FATHER LEAVES SOMETHING BEHIND
A good father thinks beyond himself.
📖 Proverbs 13:22 (KJV) A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
That inheritance can include finances and possessions, but there is something far more valuable we can leave behind:
A spiritual legacy.
One day our children will remember us.
What will they remember?
Eventually, our children will have to walk without us.
📖 Proverbs 20:7 (KJV) The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
