THREE POINTS TO BETTER FATHERHOOD

“As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory” (1 Thes. 2:11–12).

Three salient points are given to describe how a father should behave toward his children:

1. He should exhort (encourage) them as we all need encouragement on a daily basis (cf. Heb. 3:12-13; Heb. 10:25; Jude 3).
   
2. He should comfort (console) them in which we have a great example in the God of all comfort (cf. 2 Cor. 1:3-7).
   
3. He should charge them as a good leader (cf. Gen. 26:5; Deut. 3:28; Deut. 31:23; 1 Kgs. 2:1-9).
   

The purpose in this activity is so that children “walk worthy of God” (cf. Eph. 4:1-6) as a father has no greater joy than to know his children walk in truth (3 John 4; John 17:17). The beauty of Christianity is even if we do not have an earthly father that behaves this way, we have a heavenly Father that does (cf. Gen. 18:25; James 1:17-18; Eph. 1:3). Thank you to all the godly fathers and praise be to the Father whose face one day we shall see, if we remain faithful (Rev. 22:1-4)!

Trent Thrasher