Of Confidence & Strength

There are many things being said these days about identity and the state of affairs we find ourselves in today. While there is much to make of the identity crisis of our age; there is also a need for fathers. From the very beginning, Adam, as the first man, was tasked with naming all the animals and then when woman was made, he didn't hesitate but to name her [Eve] as well.

We have all different examples of fathers throughout scripture, some were decent, some weren't, some were quite good and some just terrible; of course we also have The Father, lest we compare Him to any earthly man.

There are many things that have clouded our view of fathers, and on this day, when we celebrate fathers, I have no delusions that there are plenty of those out there who have had bad experiences, absentee fathers or worse. Not to make light of those situations, there is a something to be said of what happens when someone has a good father. I grew up with hard working parents who have been married for nearly 37 years. My dad was with the EMS in New York City and eventually an NYPD officer and Sergeant, I am quite proud of him. He isn't perfect, but then again, no one is; he did a pretty good job, along with my mom, raising two boys in NYC and I am blessed to have a dad like him.

"A righteous person who walks in his integrity— How blessed are his sons after him." - Proverbs 20:7 

Not everyone has an experience like me; even in my own family there are so many different scenarios with family dynamics. For generations now, many have grown up in homes where the wasn't a good dad figure or dad at all. We should never conflate our relationships with our earthly fathers with that of our Heavenly Father, so what is fatherhood to look like, what is the design that God intended?

Fathers care for their children and guide them in the way they should go. Take every opportunity to encourage your children to go further and pursue after God with their whole life. Fathers also are guardians, providers and strong. 

Not everyone who is a father has his own children, though, every man who has children is a father. In Proverbs, we see that a righteous person is to walk in integrity, this is a blessing to his children. We need men to stand up and be full of courage and integrity. Life will always have challenges and tests for us, but we need to be above reproach walking in righteousness. In the Gospel according to Matthew Jesus tells us:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied." - Matthew 5:6

This should be a relief for many, we don't have to conjure up our own righteousness, if we hunger and thirst for it, God will fill us and satisfy us. That is a good thing because our righteousness is as filthy rags anyhow. "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our wrongdoings, like the wind, take us away." - Isaiah 64:6. So if we are looking for a good example of fatherhood, we should look to the Father and also walk in righteousness.

The road will not always be easy, but it is certainly rewarding and worth it. Children are a heritage from the Lord and God blesses those who have them. Parents need wisdom and strength to lead children properly into adulthood.

"Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court." - Psalm 127:3-5
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