A father’s greatest gift to his children is himself and his journey with Jesus Christ. You and I need to hear this over and over. God is working to turn the hearts of fathers toward their children–that turn in relationships is evidenceof genuine revival and spiritual transformation. Alienated children and fathers is evidence of the curse. Notice these words from the LORD in Malachi:
"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." Malachi 4:5-6
A father’s greatest gift to his children is himself and his spiritual journey with Jesus. I want to raise the value of my relationship with my children. That relationship is informed by needs and God’s calling: my children need affirmation and love, my children need provision, my children need encouragement and correction. But they also need companionship on the journey of faith in Christ.
I am learning how to include my children in my journey and how to create space for them to include me in their spiritual discovery. A few of my learnings:
I must talk about the faithfulness of God. These stories of faith are first-hand and second-hand experiences of trusting God. They are my stories, the stories of Scripture, and the stories of people I meet.
I must treasure the Word of God. I want the high-value I place of God’s word to be evident in my conversation, our devotions. I want to let my kids in on how the Word of God is providing the WHY or the direction on what we are doing. I hope this Word of God will become rooted in their hearts as life for them when I am not present with them, but the Holy Spirit is with them.
I must create a pattern to life that builds faith in Christ. The power of "Sabbath ruts" must not be underestimated. Sundays, days of rest and re-creation, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, daily readings at breakfast, weekly Famly fun nights, daily debriefings at dinner, prayer at meals, family mission trips, are all occasions to bring out the faith that fuels my heart for my children.
I must involve my family in decisions that require faith in God. As my children get older their capacity to engage in this process of following God is growing.
I must admit my need for grace. I don’t have it all together. I am living the journey by grace. I have a history of grace. My children need to know I am depending on the grace of God.
