I wish I could be a perfect father for my children.
How I wish that I had always been intentional, patient, endearing, Christ-honoring in everything that they have heard me say and have seen me do. Â It is so easy for me to compare myself to other dads in our culture and think I am doing better than most.
Better by comparison is not the goal – obedience to the Word is the goal.
With that, I have to realize that my children will see every part of me: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Â In reality, I pray that they can learn from all three.
- Repeat the Good. Â I pray I can be a godly example for them in some ways. Â If I live in a way to glorify Jesus, I hope they can glean insight from my teaching (Prov. 1:8) and imitate my example (Heb. 13:7; 1 Cor. 11:1). Â I want them to walk in the truth (3 John 4) and so I need to be sanctified in that truth (John 17:17).
- Reject the Bad. Â Unfortunately, they will see the bad in my life and I pray they will reject it. Â There will be times I need to point out that they should not imitate my stubborn and rebellious ways (Ps. 78:8).
- Redeem the Ugly. Â Our family will experience things that may not be due to my obedience or sin (or their’s), but just because life gets ugly sometimes. Â I desire to lead them in such a way that we live by faith knowing that God can bring beauty out of that which comes to us as ugly (Gen. 50:20; Rom. 8:28).
I pray that my children will never waste a learning opportunity from my example.
Through my successes and failures, I pray that my children will be able to bypass many unnecessary stops along the way and follow Jesus at a closer proximity than I ever experienced. Â God can use even the good, the bad, and the ugly for their own growth.
Parents – live in such a way that your children can go further and faster serving the Kingdom of God.Â
For more on this topic, check out the sermon, “Walk in His Ways.”