In a matter of months I will become a Father! This has made
me think a lot about what fatherhood is and what it should look like. The Bible
calls God a Father and calls us his children. These are some observations I
made about fatherhood based upon how my heavenly Father is a father to me.
A Father…
·
Gives grace and peace (Beginning of Paul’s
letters)
·
Provides (1 Corinthians 8:6)
·
Protects by destroying evil (1 Corinthians 15:24)
·
Brings mercy and gives comfort (2 Corinthians
1:3)
·
Promises to be father, and won’t leave his wife
or kids (2 Corinthians 6:18, Hebrews 13:5)
·
Is sacrificial (Galatians 1:4)
·
Takes responsibility for things that aren’t his
fault (Romans 5:8)
·
Is willing to die for his wife and kids
(Ephesians 5: , Romans 5:8)
·
Blesses with spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
·
Gives wisdom and knowledge of Christ (Ephesians
1:17)
·
Allows access into his life (Ephesians 2:18)
·
Commands respect (Ephesians 3:14)
·
Is someone to be thankful for (Ephesians 5:20)
·
Is loving and faithful (Ephesians 6:23, 1 John
3:1)
·
Exhorts and encourages his children in godliness (1
Thessalonians 2:11-12)
·
Directs his children in a correct way (1 Thessalonians
3:11)
·
Comforts
and gives hope even while establishing his children (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
·
Disciplines in love (Hebrews 12:6-7)
·
Finds pleasure in giving good gifts (Luke 12:32 James
1:17)
·
Allows his children to fellowship with him (1
John 1:3)
·
Can be known by his children (1 John 2:13)
·
Can be abided in (1 John 2:24)
·
Is someone to be obeyed (2 John 1:4)
·
Does not condemn (Romans 8:1)
·
Lives the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians
5:22-23)
·
Loves his children (1 Corinthians 13:3-8)
·
Guards his children (1 Peter 1:5)
·
Is someone who should be imitated (Ephesians
5:1, 1 Peter 1:15)
·
Builds up his children (1 Peter 2:5)
·
Cares and listens to his children (1 Peter 5:7)
·
Restores,
confirms, strengthens, and establishes his children (1 Peter 5:10)
·
Is patient (2 Peter 3:9)
·
Speaks life giving words (Genesis 1)
·
Speaks into the life of his children (Jonah 1:1,
1 Samuel 3:10, Acts 9:4)
·
Is forgiving (Psalm 86:5, Ephesians 4:22, Colossians
3:13)
·
Has a will for his children (1 Thessalonians
4:3)
·
Does not provoke his children to anger but
disciplines and instructs in righteousness (Ephesians 6:4)
·
Keeps his promises (Joshua 21:45)
·
Restores his children gently (Galatians 6:1)
·
Corrects by exposing the sin of his children
(Romans 4:15)
·
Gives good advice on how to live (Book of
Proverbs)
·
Gives an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11)
·
Is there in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)
This list will continue to grow as I read and learn more
about being a Father. Do you have any thoughts on how God has been a good
Father to you?
