The Greatest Joy Of Being a Dad!

As a dad, life presents its share of joy-filled moments:

The birth of your child!
The first steps of your child!
That first meal prepared by your child (that you can eat)!
Going off to camp!
That clutch home run in the ninth inning to win the championship!
Their first job and receiving their first paycheck!
Getting their driver’s license!
Finding God’s mate in marriage!
Watching your own children become parents!

Most certainly, this could be an expansive list! But in this post, I am sharing what I believe to be the greatest joy of being a dad! It is all wrapped up in one word – discipleship!

Matthew 28:19-20 gives the grace-enabled expectation of every believer in Christ, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

This great joy of discipleship begins at home and involves two events.

1. PERSONAL SALVATION

The greatest day in every child’s life is the day he/she comes to repentance and faith in Christ alone for salvation (John 1:12; 3:16; Luke 13:3; Romans 9:10-13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 2:1-9; Titus 3:4-5).

Here are two helpful links:

2. PERSONAL, PRACTICAL DAILY MENTORING

Each day is filled with opportunities to point your children to the the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God! For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).

Teach them to pray and pray with them.
Read Scripture to them and with them.
Memorize the Word together.
Teach them to keep a journal as they daily track the character of God seen in their lives as well as their parents and siblings.
Make spiritual applications throughout the day to events that happen.
Let them learn about the promises and works of God in the first person. Don’t be so protective of them that they have a difficult time learning to trust God in hardships of life!
Never underestimate the importance of spending one-on-one time with your children listening to them, connecting with them, rejoicing with them and having fun with them!
Make Christ the preeminent One in their lives. He should be their greatest Hero, their dearest Friend, their greatest Counselor, their eternal Savior, their most precious Advocate!!!
Always magnify the Church of which Christ is the Head. H.B. Charles said, “You cannot have a high view of Christ and a low view of His Church at the same time.” By your example, love the preaching of God’s Word. Be faithful to Sunday School. Discuss their SS lessons and the message after church. Serve in ministry together. Make the Body of Christ more important and more exciting than school, recreation, etc. Don’t be critical of the Body of Christ!
Let your children see you genuinely loving God with all your heart! They are watching you!
Let your children see you fail, confess sin, repent, and ask for forgiveness.
Let your children see you live out Romans 8:28-39!
Love your wife, your children’s mother, in such a way that your children look forward to having a biblical, godly marriage!

Here are more helpful links:

Dads, your greatest work is at home! Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13).

If you fail, father, to teach your son to fear God, the devil will teach him to hate God. If you fail to teach your son to guard his mind, the devil will gladly teach him to have an open mind. If you fail to teach your son to obey his parents, the devil will teach him to rebel and break his parent’s heart. If you fail to teach your son to select his companions, the devil will gladly choose them for him. If you fail to teach your son to control his body, the devil will teach him to give it over completely to lust. If you fail to teach your son to enjoy the marriage partner that God has given him, the devil will teach him to destroy the marriage. If you fail to teach your son to watch his words, the devil will fill his mouth with filth. If you fail to teach your son to pursue his work, the devil will make his laziness a tool of hell. If you fail to teach your son to manage his money, the devil will teach him to waste it on riotous living. And if you fail to teach your son to love his neighbor, the devil will gladly teach him to love only himself. John MacArthur, Crucial Lessons for a Wise Father, Selected Proverbs. This article originally appeared (www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/80-71) at http://www.gty.org.

Happy Father’s Day . . . for God’s glory!!!