Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Bad Dads
Every time I teach on fathers, I can count on a couple of painful reactions. There is always someone who did not have a Dad when they were growing up. Or they had a Dad who was not kind, gentle, and loving. Some were abused physically and emotionally by their Dads. It is painful and emotional to hear all this talk of what a good Dad is.
The other reaction is from the men who failed as Dads. They may not have known the Lord when their kids were growing up. Or they were not faithful to him. Or they struggled to live out their faith. Or they left their family.
With some, the pain is that they could have done better. For others, the pain is in knowing that their children are not faithful to the Lord and they learned that at home. It is painful to see the guilt etched on the faces of Dads who wish they could do it all over again.
So how do you speak to those that hurt over their Dads? Or how do you speak to those who would give anything to have another shot at raising their kids.
I John 5:1-5
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcome the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
If your Dad failed you, you are still God's child. If your Dad gave you baggage that makes it hard to function in this life, you real Father will see that you overcome this world.
If you wish you had done better, but your kids are children of God, don't worry. They will overcome the world.
If you truly failed as a father, remember that you are now a child of God. Pray every day for your kids to come to know Jesus. Live your faith now in front of them. Give your testimony. Ask forgiveness. Die with faith. Be the father now you wish you had been then. It is never too late to teach your children about Jesus.
Dads aren't perfect. It is a hard world. We all grew up with baggage. We all gave our kids baggage.
But here's the thing I have learned. I gave my kids all sorts of baggage I wish they didn't have. Lots of suitcases to haul around the rest of their life. But I gave them one big suitcase: Jesus. And I have found that all the other baggage fits in that one. And they will overcome the world because they are children of God.
Just like me.
Blessings on your kids.
The other reaction is from the men who failed as Dads. They may not have known the Lord when their kids were growing up. Or they were not faithful to him. Or they struggled to live out their faith. Or they left their family.
With some, the pain is that they could have done better. For others, the pain is in knowing that their children are not faithful to the Lord and they learned that at home. It is painful to see the guilt etched on the faces of Dads who wish they could do it all over again.
So how do you speak to those that hurt over their Dads? Or how do you speak to those who would give anything to have another shot at raising their kids.
I John 5:1-5
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcome the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
If your Dad failed you, you are still God's child. If your Dad gave you baggage that makes it hard to function in this life, you real Father will see that you overcome this world.
If you wish you had done better, but your kids are children of God, don't worry. They will overcome the world.
If you truly failed as a father, remember that you are now a child of God. Pray every day for your kids to come to know Jesus. Live your faith now in front of them. Give your testimony. Ask forgiveness. Die with faith. Be the father now you wish you had been then. It is never too late to teach your children about Jesus.
Dads aren't perfect. It is a hard world. We all grew up with baggage. We all gave our kids baggage.
But here's the thing I have learned. I gave my kids all sorts of baggage I wish they didn't have. Lots of suitcases to haul around the rest of their life. But I gave them one big suitcase: Jesus. And I have found that all the other baggage fits in that one. And they will overcome the world because they are children of God.
Just like me.
Blessings on your kids.
