DADS—Those Who Lead By Example
Obviously, a person cannot lead someone to go somewhere unless first the person leading has been where he is leading.
Today is “Dad’s Day,” a day set aside to celebrate the many “dads” found throughout the world. In keeping with this tradition, I thought it would be best that my writing would encompass this topic.
Thus, on this “Dad’s Day,” there are two questions that the world of yesterday & the world of today needs to answer:
- What makes a dad, well a “DAD”?
- When a man is considered a “DAD” to another person, what charge must the “DAD” employ to lead the children he has been given to lead?
Before we travel too far, let’s see what our Father has to say. Please take up your Bible and join me in reading what Moses said to the children of Israel, words they needed to remember about how to follow where the LORD their FATHER was leading them to go.
“Hear, Israel!
(Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 NASB)
The LORD is our God,
the LORD is one!
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
[Jesus, the Son of God, also said these same words to the New Testament church!]
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.”
[Moses is the “I” who is the author of the Bible book Deuteronomy &
The children of Israel, the People of God are the “you” Moses is speaking to.]
“And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and
speak of them when you sit in your house,
when you walk on the road,
when you lie down,
and when you get up.
You shall also tie them as a sign to your hand,
and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead.
You shall also write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Did we catch that?
What did Moses tell the dads to do, to remember?
Moses told the dads (of the God-led homes) what to do. You must—
- Always remember the LORD God is truly GOD!
- Always remember the LORD is three persons in one: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit!
- Always love the LORD with every part of yourself!
- Always keep this thought in your heart!
- Always repeat these words to your children God provides!
- All parts of every day (sitting in the house, walking on the roadway, resting at home, arising in the morning), repeat this love you have for God aloud!
- On your persons, carry these words of love for God with you!
- On your doorpost where the neighbors can see—write these words of love for God!
- Even on the entryway of your drive—write these words of love for God, so those passing by your home will know where your loyalty with God remains!
How DADS Lead By Example—
- Dads cannot be spiritually lazy or apathetic when it comes to the way the LORD expects them to raise the children God has given to them.
- Dads cannot lead their children where they have not been first (meaning—How can a dad lead his child to love God more than anything if he does not love God?).
- Dads must know the LORD in a personal relationship if dads pray for their children to come to know the LORD as their Savior!
- Dads must instruct, teach, and lead with diligence.
- Dads must LOVE GOD FIRST & FOREMOST!
- Dads must be diligent in their study of God’s Word!
- Dads must be willing to share their love for God with others (especially with their children).
- Dads must not be mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually distracted.
- Dads must love as Jesus loved—with a servant-like heart.
- Dads must love the children’s mother in the way God instructs in the Bible to love the dad’s wife & mother of his children—just as Jesus loved.
- Dads must correct and discipline in Christ-like love when their children are disobedient to God’s commands.
- Dads must become the first and constant teacher of God’s Word with their children.
- Dads must express the words “I love you” often to their children so they remember their dad’s love.
- Dads must embrace their children, even when they must discipline, so they will remember their dad’s love.
- More than anything else, dads must speak of God’s love & pray often for the children God has given to them.
Parents have been graced as stewards of a tremendous gift—children to love, to raise, & to lead to the LORD. Dads are given the overwhelming task of leading their homes; therefore, GOD EXPECTS that a dad LOVE GOD FIRST & FOREMOST so that he (dad) can love his wife & children in a steadfast way. In doing so, God instructed Moses to remind the people of what the LORD will do (when they keep these commands from God).
“Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land that He swore to your fathers,
(Deuteronomy 6: 10-13 NASB)
to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build,
and houses full of all good things which you did not fill,
and carved cisterns which you did not carve out,
vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant,
and you eat and are satisfied,
[You] be careful that you do not forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
You shall fear only the LORD your God;
and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.”
Yes, on this “Dad’s Day,” there are two questions that the world of yesterday & the world of today needs to answer:
- What makes a dad, well a “DAD”?
- If a man is considered a “DAD” to another person, what charge must the “DAD” employ to lead the children he has been given to lead?
DADS—Are Truly Those Who Lead Their Homes By Example
In closing, the apostle John reminds us (the People of God) WHY these truths must be kept & shared.
“Beloved, let’s love one another;
(1 John 4: 7-9 NASB)
for love is from God,
and everyone [the People of God] who loves has been born of God and knows God.
The one who does not love [as God loves] does not know God, because God is love.
By this the love of God was revealed in us,
that God has sent His only Son into the world
so that we may live through Him.”