Word Wednesday: Accessibility

Hebrews 4:15-16

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. 

After working in ninety five degree heat all day with a heat index nearing one hundred the last thing this body wanted to do is be accessible.  It wants to take a break, grab some ice tea, plop in the chair, and soak up some AC for a couple hours before bedtime.  That is not what happens though in the Stapleton Household.

• " Play ball with me Daddy. " 
•  " Look at this Daddy, isn't it cool? " 
• " Can we catch Lightning Bugs? "
• " Are you gonna read with me tonight? "
• " Whose turn is it on the Wii Daddy? "
• " How did your day go? "
• " Has the trash been taken out? "

Little voices all calling out to their Daddy for a moment of attention.  Little minds needing guidance and instruction in the ways that they should go.  Little hearts that reach out wanting their Daddy to be there for them, to answer them, and to be accessible in all things.  A wife's desire for adult interaction after chasing little ones all day.  The need for us to help, lead, and be the man God has called us to be. 

Fathers, we are to be there for our Families through it all.  We all need down time, the moments of quiet to recoup, and time alone with God, but our families need us.  God designed it that way.  It is part of His purpose for men and the family and we need to listen.

We cannot instruct our children in the ways of righteousness if we check out, zone out, and pass out to ESPN, The History Channel, or the latest greatest attention grabber.  We cannot be there to comfort, protect, and guide if we are selfishly consuming all our time on " ME ".  Men we cannot leave our kids to their own devices and then wonder, " Why don't they listen, " or  " Why are they  rebellious? "  They are full of questions about life, their surroundings, and most importantly about God and to be the Priest in your home as the Leader that God commands you must be accessible to them.

Husbands your wife needs you.  She needs you to be their to listen, affirm, and protect and deep down whether she will admit it or not there is a desire for a man to be a man.  That is not a call to be abusive, overbearing, or chauvinistic but rather to make the most of our complementarian roles that God has given us.  You cannot love your wife the way Christ loved the Church if you are not there for her, not willing to sacrifice for her, and not willing to love her unconditionally even in the worst of circumstances.  We must listen to our wives ( I know this is hard and against our wiring ) without initially offering advice on how to fix the problem.  She wants you to just listen ( accessibility ) at times and the " fixing " will often come later.  So drop the magazine, put away the remote, and listen to your wife.  You may even be surprised at what she has to to say sometimes.

The veil has been rent and we have access to our Heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He is there and  has promised  to never leave nor forsake us.  We are to cast our cares upon Him for He truly cares for us.  He knows your trials, tribulations, and temptations and is Sovereign throughout .  He, the Great I AM and Almighty God, has made Himself accessible to His children.  We should do no less for our family here on earth.

Father, I thank you for removing the veil that separated us from YOU and allowing us to come before the throne of Grace in times of need.  I ask you know to help fathers and husbands everywhere to be accessible to their families and to lead them in a Christ-like manner.  Amen