Be a Dad for Jesus' Sake

This Father's Day let me just give an encouragement to those who are dads and are sinners- from one who is both. I am joyfully a dad and regretfully still a sinner. God has called imperfect men to lead imperfect wives and imperfect children, but he has called us to do this the power of His grace. He supplies the wisdom in his Word and his Spirit gives the power to apply the Word to both ourselves and our families. What we do imperfectly He is somehow directing it perfectly in his sovereign plan. Take courage then and lead, be humble when you fail and ask God to bless you in both your strengths and your weaknesses. Remember your responsibility is great, but your God is greater. Know that He loves your wife and family more than you and he has placed "imperfect" you to lead and shepherd them. It was not a mistake that He chose a sinful man to lead as a husband and father. Rather it was his plan to cause his grace to be glorified in your weaknesses.

This never excuses our weaknesses, but it gives us confidence to lead with great humility, fear and a great sense of calling.

If you are dad who has been saved by grace alone all through the work of Christ alone here is a Father's Day prayer for you:

God, may you give wisdom to those who are fathers
Cause us to be faithful men, though we still fall
Grant to us tongues that speak wisdom
Give to us words that heal rather than wound
May our corrections be firm but gentle
Supply courage to face down temptations
Stiffen our spines to lead in uncertain times
Grant tenderness to listen to broken hearts and discouragements
May we be sources of laughter and song in our homes
Let us teach our children warmly and not woodenly
Help us to love our wives in a way that honors the Cross
Make us fearless in the face of evil
Willing to make great sacrifices for the gospel at home, church and world
Oh let us be men who would die a thousand deaths for the glory of our justification in Christ
Let us teach our children well the message of Christ crucified as the only remedy for our sin
Supply us with great patience and careful instruction.
Let us imitate the strengths of our own fathers and avoid their weaknesses
May our children be given grace to rise above our own failings
Make us good and quick repenters
Give us sons and daughters who fear nothing but God,
Who love all that is Christ-centered
And whose blazing passion is to find their great joy in God and not in the trinkets of this world
May they long to be found in Christ not having a righteousness of their own, but that which comes completely from Christ on the basis of faith.
May both we, our wives and our children be faithful unto death or until Jesus Christ returns. Amen