Pastor Dad

I just started reading an amazing book by Pastor Mark Driscoll, the name of the book is titled Pastor Dad. You can read the ebook here for free. I found a few paragraphs in the first chapter I wanted to share.

"The wisdom for Christian fathering is scattered throughout Scripture and concentrated most particularly in Proverbs. In Proverbs 3:11–12 the father says, “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” Before any father disciplines his children, he is commanded to delight in them. Practically, this means that most of a father’s time is spent enjoying his children, encouraging his children, laughing with his children, being affectionate with his children, and enjoying his children so that there is a deep bond of love and joy between the children and their dad.

Part of that love includes a father disciplining his children as needed to keep them on a path of wisdom and righteousness. This pattern is to be modeled by the father who has God as his Father and gladly receives instruction and correction from God the Father and other authorities God has placed over him (e.g., church elders and other leaders). Therefore, a godly father models submission to authority and the welcoming of correction by repenting of his own sin, receiving forgiveness, and walking in restored intimacy with God the Father by empowering grace. All of this is the essence of love, as sin leads to death and hell, and discipline leads to repentance, which points us back to life and God. Practically, this means that a good father lives out the gospel every day in fellowship with God and his child, and that he knows what to do about sin in the life of his child because he’s been dealing with his own sin in his own life first." From Pastor Dad by Mark Driscoll

Being a father is such an amazing responsibility, but always remember that this amazing relationship between Father and Child is displayed for us all through scripture.

Allow your kids to get to know their heavenly father by watching their earthly father. Regardless of what you think, they are watching your every move. What are you teaching them?

In His Service,