Today is the day that is set aside to honor fathers.  Let us remember that it is from our heavenly Father that all love and goodness comes.  Therefore, let’s praise and honor Him with our whole beings this day.
 
As for our fathers here on earth, Scripture says,
“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 ones youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them…”  Psalm 127:3-5
 
How blessed we are that God has given us the privilege to be parents!  It is a role that can not be taken lightly or lived according to man’s earthy scheme of things!  Scripture tells us how fathers and children are to relate to each other as in Ephesians.
 
“Children obey your parents in the Lord, for it is right.  ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: that it may go well with you and you may live long on the earth.”  Vs. 1-3
 
Then Vs. 4 to fathers in the Amplified Bible,
“And you, fathers do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.”
 
Fathers are to train, discipline (that means child train!) counsel and admonish tenderly.  This is not a quick process, but an ongoing work just as our heavenly Father tenderly trains and disciplines each one of us.  As we are, so are they: works in progress!
 
Fathers and mothers (and the church family) are not left alone here!  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.
 
Deuteronomy 6:7 tells us,
“You shall teach them (God’s commandments) 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, diligently 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 great need for wisdom.  (Please read the whole chapter for this father’s wise instruction and counsel.) 
“When I was the son of 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, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and 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 cannot 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 here for them.
 
In my study Bible Psalm 128 is titled ‘Blessing on the House of the God-Fearing’  I close with Vs. 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 this made known by Your Holy Spirit.  Thank you for each one of them.  Amen