By Pastor (Mrs) Gbubemi Doherty
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:1-4
What kind of father are you? Are you a godly father or an absentee father? An absentee father is the one that merely bears the title of a father but he is hardly there. They are busy and preoccupied with jobs at the expense of their children. They are also called the modern day fathers. They are of the opinion that the way to bring up a child is by buying gifts but neglect Godly correction.
Two Types of fathers: Spiritual Father and Biological Father
As believers our spiritual fathers are very important to us; they are there to give us divine guidance and instruction. They are in our life’s to labour on us as the shepherd that the Lord Jesus has appointed over us, this explains why we must honour and pay attention to them.
Biological fathers are our physical fathers through whom we came forth to this world. We must respect and honour them.
As fathers we have responsibilities to our family, wife, children and the body of Christ.
Responsibilities of a Father
1. It is your duty to provide for your family 1Timothy 5:8
2. It is your duty to protect and defend your family
3. It is your duty to instruct and train your children
4. You are to discipline and correct any erring child
5. It is your duty to be a good role model to your children and family
6. You have to love and care for your family
The best of all fathers is our heavenly father, the Almighty God, the Alpha and Omega. He is the father of the fatherless, the defender of widows. Christ our saviour came to reveal Him to us. I don’t know who you regard Him to be in your life but I know who I know Him to be in my life. He is my great healer who brought me out of death that is my father. Who is your father? Who are you going to declare is your father right now?