Understanding the Purpose and Power of Men

How to Be a Good Father

A Tremendous Calling

Gentlemen, we have a tremendous calling ahead of us. Our task involves changing not only our own perspectives of fatherhood, but also those of our children, especially our sons. We have to communicate to them the standards of God, so that the trend I‘ve just described can be reversed. But we have to start with ourselves. We must discover and put into practice what the Word of God says about fathers and to fathers. Then we can teach these principles to other men and boys. God‘s truth about fathers will be the salv a tion of our communities and nations. God has always been very specific in His Word about the responsibilities of a father. This role is of particular impor tance to Him, because fathers are meant to represent Him to

their children. The fatherhood of God is indicative of His nature; it is the way He desires to relate to us. When fathers fail to show His love and character to their sons and daugh ters, the children‘s concept of God suffers, affecting their relationships with Him. Now, no earthly

Fathers

represent

God to

their

children.

father can ever be perfect. Yet God has provided a wealth of instruction on parenting in His Word. When men look to Him, they can fulfill their responsibilities and be meaningful reflections of the fatherhood of God to their children. What, then, does it mean to be a good father?

The Responsibilities of a Father

1. A Good Father Knows the Heavenly Father

A man won‘t be able to understand what it means to be a good father if he doesn‘t know His heavenly Father. When Jesus rose from the dead, He made this wonderful state ment: “I am returning to my Fathe r and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17). Because of Jesus‘ death and resurrection on our behalf, we can know God not only as our Creator but also as our Father. A man must also have faith in God as His Father — that He will love, protect, and provide for him. Trust and reliance

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