A Father’s Heart

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark  sayings of old: which … our fathers have told us 

Psalms 78:2 – 3

Asaph, the musician, writes confidently of his conviction to proclaim the word of God to the next generation. The word of God is to be shared, not stored. It is to be spoken out from the mouth, not stowed in the heart. It is to be proclaimed from the rooftops, not placed on shelves. These words, important to be proclaimed, were told by the fathers to their next generations. Asaph remembered the words of the fathers of old. The ancient people of the Jews had the Father as head to instruct, lead and protect the family. Fathers, let us hear these truths.

The fathers took responsibility for teaching the word and ways of God to the children. It is a God-given responsibility for fathers to teach their children the word of God. Yet, though the responsibility was given, the question to be asked remains: has the responsibility been fully accepted? A soldier may bear arms but is he willing to fight? A father may be so by name, but will he accept the responsibility of teaching the word of God? Fathers, we must teach our children the word of God.

The fathers took responsibility for demonstrating the Word of God in their lives (Psalms 78:4). They not only preached but practised the word of God. Although the nation of Israel failed God and fell into apostasy time and again, we saw godly kings such as Josiah, Hezekiah, David and Solomon. We have the patriarchs such as Abraham and Moses who did many wonderful works in the name of the Lord Jehovah. Fathers, are there wonderful works that the Lord has done in our lives that we can proclaim to the next generation? Have we seen, heard and experienced the wonderful works of God? Have you known and shown in our lives the reality of Christ’s salvation in changing us? In transforming us and helping us to overcome our bad habits, impure thoughts and unkindness? To begin to love one another as Christ has loved us? Many modern saints do not have first hand knowledge of the might of God. They are ignorant of the power that opened the Red Sea and held the sun for 24 hours. Yet, these are written in the Holy Scriptures, known and read of all men. Children cannot believe even if they hear unless the Holy Spirit convicts their hearts of the truth that is impressed on them. Yet, how is the truth to be impressed on the hearts unless there is a clear testimony by the fathers in the families? Fathers, is there the testimony of Christ in our families, of genuine love and tolerance, of biblical care and concern, of godly discipline and practice, of Scriptural hatred for sin and of intense love for God in our service to God within the local church and outside? We need to take responsibility for demonstrating the love of God in our lives.

The fathers hoped that their children would set their hope in God (Psalms 78:7). Every father need to hope in their hearts that their children will set their hope in God. The hope of our lives should never be the money we earn, the career we have, the spouses we will marry, the homes we make but the Christ we have received, the Saviour we have accepted and the God of this Universe we have come to trust. The hope is that they will never forget what God has done for them and that the children will keep listening to the Lord with all their hearts with all their obedience.

Fathers, are we instructing our children in the word of God by our words and our works? Is our intense desire to ensure that they set their hearts and hope in God and Him alone? Though all the world may leave them and their hopes and dreams are dashed, they will know their God is always in their midst. May we inspire hope in our children by our words but, more importantly, by our godly lives.

Written by: Pastor Johnny Tan
Edited by: Timothy Lee
Image Credit: Flickr