Fathers: Give your children what they really need

One of the most important events in the life of Jesus occurred before he gave the Sermon on the Mount, restored sight to the blind or healed the demon-possessed. Before Jesus even began his public ministry, he received his Father’s blessing.

The account is found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 3:16-17: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”

Notice what God the Father did for his son Jesus. First, he claimed Jesus as his own, saying, “This is my son.” Next, God the Father said the words every child needs to hear directly from our lips: “I love you.” And finally, God the Father affirmed his son Jesus, saying, “I am well pleased.”

It occurred to me that whenever one of my four children accomplishes something I’m proud of, I’m quick to claim them. “That’s my son,” I say to myself. Fatherly pride enables me to say it out loud in the presence of my friends, or even complete strangers. Sadly, I sometimes forget to say these words to the very person who needs to hear it most and most often.

In the middle act of his blessing, God said three words which every child needs to hear: “Whom I love.” Given the perfect example God set before us, why as men do we sometimes struggle to say the words “I love you” to those we cherish most? Is it because as children we so seldom heard our own fathers express these words? This is a burden common to men and it passes from generation to generation. It takes courage to be a father. Find the inner strength to tell your children, “I love you.”

In the final act of his blessing, God the Father affirms Jesus, stating, “With him I am well pleased.”

It bears repeating that God the Father declared his pleasure in the personhood of Jesus before he began his public ministry. It wasn’t based on performance. God’s love for his son was unconditional. Fathers, don’t wait until your children bring home their report cards or clean their rooms. Tell your children today that you are pleased with them just because of who they are!

Gentlemen, if you struggle to bless your children in the same way God the Father blessed his son, then you are not alone. Take heart, because help is on the way.

Lazy Mountain Bible Church in Palmer is hosting a special presentation by an ordinary dad who has found great success teaching men how to express their love to their wives, children and parents through the lost art of letter writing. Ministry founder and best selling author Greg Vaughn will present “Letters from Dad” on Thursday starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free and includes live music and a barbecue dinner. Advance reservations are required. For more information, call 745-2611.

David Dahms is lead pastor for Lazy Mountain Bible Church. Keith Early, and Al and Gretchen Strawn are church members and volunteers.

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