“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord;
The fruit of the womb is His reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them...”  Psalm 127:3-5
 
These verses usually find their way in most Father’s Day messages.  They are a reminder of how very special children are to God.  With this blessing comes a tremendous responsibility! The need for fathers (mothers, too) who are grounded and rooted in Christ Jesus is essential.  Not only teaching by word, but even more so teaching by example.  Seeing parents live out the words they are teaching establishes that consistency that all children need.
 
Children today are under such ungodly influences all around them that there must be that haven in the home and family of love, truth and assurance that God is faithful and trustworthy.  Church, we too, have a responsibility here.  Our lives must set a good example, our lives must express a difference to our children who are daily at risk in this world of evil enticements. 
 
God’s word tells us in Ephesians 4:1-3,
“…walk in a manor worthy of the calling with which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
 
Fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. we are not left on our own, we have God’s instruction book, the Bible, and we have the Holy Spirit who reveals God’s Word and who leads and guides.  This means that we should diligently seek God’s wisdom day by day through prayer and the study of the Word.
 
Scripture tells us in Deuteronomy 6:7,
“You shall teach them (God’s commandment) diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.”
(I am so blessed to see parents in our Fellowship, doing that, sharing and teaching God’s word to their children.)
 
Proverbs is filled with wise instruction.  Proverbs 4:3-9 is a beautiful picture of a father sharing with his son what he received from his own father when he was young.  (The whole chapter is a father’s wise instruction and counsel.)
Proverbs 4:3-9 says,
“When I was a son to my father,
Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,
Then he taught me and said to me,
‘Let your heart hold fast my words;
Keep my commandments and live;
Acquire wisdom!  Acquire understanding!
Do not forget, and turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her (wisdom), she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her,
She will place on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.’”
 
It is so important for God’s family to continually pray for His covering on our children.  Though we can not be with them every moment we can certainly keep them continually in prayer!  Also, we can each be available to them and let them know that we love them and we are there for them! 
 
Psalm 128 is titled in my study Bible ‘Blessing on the House of the God- Fearing’ and I close with Verses 1-4,
“Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,
Who walks in His ways.
When you eat the labor of your hands 
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants all around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.”
 
Father, bless our fathers this day with Your wisdom, Your strength and Your counsel all in Christ Jesus and made known by Your Holy Spirit.  Thank you for each one of them.  Amen