Men, how often do we make decisions based on human understanding rather than seeing things through the eyes of Christ? Do we have a switch that turns His love on and off, rather than being filled with it and allowing our plans to be guided by His? It's all about relationships, and as fathers, our relationships with our children and with the Lord Jesus are crucial.
I recall a weekend I spent with my son at a basketball tournament when he was a teenager. Initially, I rationalized that we would stay in a hotel due to the distance and cost, but in reality, I was trying to justify not spending quality time with him. I always ask for lessons from God in everything I do, but that weekend, He had a lesson in store for me that I hadn't planned for.
We all have the same amount of time; what differs is how we use it. We often prioritize work, household chores, and other responsibilities over relationships, which are the most important thing. While watching my son's game, he took a hard fall and was injured. As a father, I couldn't help but feel the overwhelming desire to take away his pain and carry it for him.
The Holy Spirit spoke to me, reminding me of 1 Peter 2:24-25: "He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls." The Lord's lesson was clear: Jesus envelops us with His loving arms, just as a father would with a young child. It's impossible to love Him more than He loves us.
A father's love for his child is just a glimpse of the Father's Love that the Lord Jesus has for us. Just as Jesus says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," when we feel distant from God, it's because we've moved away from Him. As fathers, our relationship with our children should be an example of the love we have with the Lord. If not, what's holding us back?
Our primary job as dads is to guide our families to Heaven. Each child is unique, and developing a relationship with them takes time and effort. But the impact we have on our families can be profound, extending to three generations or more.
