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Living In Grace

A Christ inspired work dealing with American Christian Culture in the New Century.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Reflections of Father's Day


Ephesians 6
 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
 2Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
 3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.


This past Sunday we celebrated Father's Day here in the States which is an annual celebration honoring Fatherhood.  We had a good day in the Stapleton household as we corporately worshipped the Lord at our local Church and later in the day we had time to spend with friends eating and laughing.  I got to speak with my own Dad and wished him a happy Father's day as well. 

Once upon a time that would never have happened as we were both unrepentant sinners and I felt that he was not deserving of much honor.  He was in no way evil ( by earthly standards ) but he did not measure up to what I thought a father should be.  We have both came to know the Lord and I now have moved past any hard feelings and sinful attitudes I had. 

Some of you reading this may have never known your biological father or wished you never had.  All fathers are not deserving of the title and God will judge them accordingly, nevertheless, we are commanded to obey them in the Lord and to honor them as it is the first commandment with promise.  How can you honor someone who has never before and is unlikely  to ever deserve it?
  1. It is a choice and very often times a hard one.  It is impossible to do it apart from prayer and an act of God.  Pray that God will heal your hurts and remove any bitterness in your life.
  2. Pray for them that they may know Godly sorrow and repent.  Regardless of the evil they may have committed they are not beyond God's reach.
  3. Witness to them if possible.  A phone call, a letter, or a kind word can make a difference
  4. Honoring them is more about your relationship with God than it is about your relationship with your earthly father. 
  5. Stay away.  I know that sounds contradictory to #3 but sometimes the best way to honor them is to not be near them.  If they are abusive stay away and be peaceable with them as much as lies within you. 
  6. Give them over to God and let Him deal with them accordingly.  He is the only One that can truly change them and it is in His Almighty Hands anyway.
Now it is your turn fathers.  Do not be the father who is unworthy of honor in the first place.  Be a Godly example and if you don't know how seek counsel from someone who does.  Look in the Book.  Look to Godly men who have raised their children in the training and admonition of the Lord.  Here are a few quick ( not always easy ) things you can do.
  1. Be the Priest, Provider, and Protector in you household.
  2. Pray with and for your children.
  3. Read the Scriptures to them.
  4. Use life's everyday teachable moments to instill wisdom in them.
  5. Love and discipline them.
  6. Admit when you are wrong and repent.
  7. Love your Wife and let them see it.
     

Gibson Eli

Weston Samuel
See those three boys scattered throughout?  My wife and I believe they are God's blessings to us to raise and care for.  I love those boys more than I thought possible and I take my responsibility as a father very seriously.  They physical gifts I give them pale in comparison to the Godly instruction given them that will impact them for Eternity.  They are not perfect but they are mine and by the Grace of God they will indeed grow into Godly young men with a sincere heart for the things of God.
Jackson David

Fathers what are you doing to be worthy of honor?  Children are you following God's commands even when seemingly impossible? 


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4 Comments:

Anonymous MindyStapleton said...

Good Post Babe!

June 21, 2011 at 12:20 PM  
Anonymous Cherylmcwilliams said...

I  am so blessed to have you as my son-in-"love"and as the daddy to my three darling grandsons!

June 21, 2011 at 5:55 PM  
Anonymous Luther@Living In Grace said...

It is a blessing to be a part of your family and your grandsons are darling even though they act like their mommy

June 21, 2011 at 7:45 PM  
Anonymous Luther@Living In Grace said...

Thanks Mindy Kay

June 21, 2011 at 7:46 PM  

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