THE EXAMPLE OF A GODLY FATHER

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  02/15/23

Read 1 Corinthians 4:14-17.

In our day and age, fathers are often portrayed in the media as bumbling idiots with little value to the family, while the reality is often worse with many fathers altogether absent or aloof. Our culture has waged war against Biblical manhood and womanhood, rejecting the roles given to us in God’s Word.

The answer is not to capitulate to the sexual revolution. It’s not to invite into our churches those who would tamper with God’s created order—who promote their own standards above God’s. The answer is for fathers—both natural and spiritual—to draw near to God and obey His Word. In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul described himself as a “father” to the Corinthian believers, and he essentially says to them, “Follow me, as I follow Jesus.”

We don’t need to be perfect. We don’t need to hide our faults from our children. (We won’t be able to anyway!) Rather, our children should see us handle failure with humility as we admit our mistakes, seek reconciliation, and persevere in godliness. You see, children watch their fathers closely, and our actions speak louder than our words. For example, if I tell my children not to cheat, but then they see me cheating on my taxes, what have I really communicated? That is why it is so important that we fathers are being transformed daily by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. The best thing we can do for our kids is to show them Jesus in how we live.

Prayer: Lord, help me to humbly admit my faults, seek reconciliation, and pursue godliness as an example to the next generation. May they observe me as someone who knows my faults, trusts in Your grace, seeks Your forgiveness, and strives to see Your Holy Spirit transform my heart. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Therefore I urge you to imitate me” (1 Corinthians 4:16).