June 16, 1999
GRACE & PEACE:
May all children know
the blessing of godly fathers
___"This, then is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name ..." (Matthew 6:9).
___How grateful I am for the heritage of fathers in my family. My dad was a Baptist businessman with a reputation for honesty and integrity. Grandfathers also blessed my life, one a Baptist preacher who helped start many churches as well as what is now Buckner Baptist Benevolences and another a Methodist layman who assisted in starting and strengthening Methodist churches across Texas.
___Now, I realize more fully the joy and the challenges of these roles and give thanks formy positive heritage. However, many have not experienced the benefit of Christian fathers. They find Father's Day memories of their fathers painful.
WILLIAM M. PINSON JR..
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___Indeed, it is difficult to find models of outstanding fathering even in the Bible. Adam, the first father, parented a son who killed another of his sons. Abraham raised a son who raped one of his daughters. David, guilty of adultery and murder, experienced rebellion at the hands of one of his sons. The New Testament provides meager information about outstanding fathers. For example, very little is known about Joseph, whom God chose to be father to Jesus.
___Therefore, it is important to look beyond human models to the divine model of our heavenly Father. The way he relates to us as his children provides an example of how human fathers should relate to their children. Many aspects to God's fathering--such as his love, supervision and discipline and his provision for us of a sense of security, togetherness, orderliness and worship-- are vital to the development of children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
___God expresses his love for us in a multitude of ways, the supreme way being in the gift of his Son, Jesus. So human fathers are to express love for their children in many ways, such as through attitude, word, touch and thoughtful deeds.
___God disciplines us as part of the expression of his love, each act of discipline being for our benefit. Human fathers also will discipline children, always for the benefit of the child in ways that lead to self-esteem and self-discipline.
___God supervises us as another indication of his love, teaching us how life is best lived and giving us an example of a perfect life in Jesus Christ. Earthly fathers should likewise supervise children in both word and deed, sharing the gospel and guiding them to maturity in Christ. Through careful supervision, children develop attitudes and skills necessary for successful living.
___Our heavenly Father through his love, discipline and supervision gives us a sense of security, of togetherness in the sense of being part of God's family, of orderliness in the rhythm of life and of worship, awe and wonder. Each father needs to provide these for his children, developing for them the climate in which they can develop as God intended.
___Father's Day provides opportunity for all fathers to dedicate themselves to patterning their fatherhood after our heavenly Father as much as is possible. In so doing, they will bless the children God has placed in their care.
___Please pray for Father's Day to be a time of rededication for fathers. Pray that fathers will follow the example of our heavenly Father. And pray that children will know the blessing of godly fathers.
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