Qualities of a Godly Dad

FROM JIM'S HEART Have you considered the importance of presenting the right kind of model for your children? And are you wondering where can you find this right kind of model? The Bible is an obvious first place to look. 

Hopefully, your spiritual understanding is far enough along that you may be aware of what the Bible says about the model you have in your loving, caring, giving, and guiding Father in heaven.

The Ultimate Role Model

The Bible presents many verses about what a strong, consistent model you have in God the Father. And you are doubly blessed if you have an earthly father who has also provided a constant model of godly fatherhood.

But for those of us who don’t have this kind of legacy to fall back on, we are forced to look around for others who can model what a father should be for his children. So where do we start?

Of course, the first place is your Bible. There, you find that God is the ultimate model of what it means to be a father. God is often spoken of as “the Father” in the Bible. He is called “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”(Ephesians 3:14).

Probably the most famous reference to God as Father came in the most famous of prayers uttered by Jesus Himself. Jesus began this prayer by saying, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9).

The Ultimate Father

God the Father is a person; therefore, He has character qualities that theologians refer to as attributes. These attributes are what identify and distinguish who God is as a person. God is the ultimate model of what it means to be a father.

Some of God’s characteristics belong only to Him, such as His infinity, eternity, immutability, omnipresence, omniscience, and sovereignty. These cannot be passed on to His creation.

But other qualities, like love, truth, holiness, patience, and kindness, can—at least in a limited sense—be found in man, who was created in God’s image. These are called the “communicable” qualities of God because they can be expressed by man.

And hopefully that includes you and me as dads.

RESPOND

God, I commit my parenting to You today. Help me to honor You in all I do. Thank You for guiding me so that my decisions will glorify You and bless my children. Amen. 

RENEWING RESOURCES 

A Dad After God’s Own Heartby Jim George—in this fresh rerelease, learn the basics for how to be a good dad with your kids, including...

• letting your kids know you love and care for them
• learning the keys to positive and effective communication
• knowing the qualities kids need most in a dad

Art Prints—Check out these art prints, designed to encourage you to be a dad after God’s own heart! 

REFLECT

Choose one of the four steps and implement that step this week. Next week, choose a second to do, and so forth and so on.

REMEMBER
Your example as a father will mark your children for life.