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| The 6 Most Important Things a Father Can Say to His Child by Ken Jones
Here are six important things every dad should learn to say to his kids. 1. “You are my son … (Mark 1:11, emphasis added) Who knows how many fathers and sons stood along the river bank watching the proceedings? But this Father and this Son had a unique relationship. The Father spoke to his boy about heritage and legacy and family ties. “You are my son,” he says, implying identity and personal connection. When a dad tells his child, “You are my child,” there is a touching, a knowing, an acknowledgement of name recognition that cannot be acquired in any other way. It’s important. Tell your kids — often— about what it means to belong to your family to the exclusion of all others. 2. “… I love you.” We can only imagine what was going through the mind of Jesus as He stood in obedience, waiting to be baptized; waiting to begin the journey His Father had prescribed for Him. He must have known the struggle would be intense, difficult, deadly. And as He started that journey toward Calvary, His Father said, “I love you.” There are so many things we can’t do for our kids. We can’t protect them from skinned knees and broken hearts. We can’t give them success in life, health or longevity. What we can give them is the assurance of our love all along the way. It’s important. Tell your kids you love them, today and every day. 3. “… With you I am well pleased.” Interesting, isn’t it? Jesus hadn’t really done anything yet, at least publicly. He hadn’t turned water into wine; no healings, no teachings, no running money changers out of the temple. And yet, as the Father spoke, He articulated his delight in His son, not because of what He had done, but because of who He was. It’s important. Tell your kids you’re thrilled with who they are and how you thank God for sending them into your life. 4. God is in control. (Mark 1:12) The speech God gave at His son’s baptismal wasn’t long and drawn out. Perhaps that was because, immediately after the water dried, “At once, …” the Bible says, the Spirit of God sent Jesus into the desert. His life was not His own. He was under orders, and obedience to the Father’s plan was paramount in His life. As a dad, the truth that our lives belong to God and He is in control is a foundational element in the formation of godly character in a child. It’s important. Tell your kids every day. Demonstrate for them on a daily basis, that God is the ‘author and finisher of our faith.’ Our lives are not our own. 5. It never gets any easier. When Jesus made His journey into the desert, He was there for 40 days being tempted by Satan. It would surely have been nice if, after Jesus had withstood that barrage of temptations, He could have had a ticket for no more tempting for the rest of His life. But that’s not how life works. The Bible says that after the 40 days of tempting were finished, the devil left Him “…until an opportune time.” (Lk. 4:13) Life isn’t easy. And overcoming the spiritual battles our kids will have to face won’t end with high school or college or marriage or the end of a career. It’s important. Tell your kids to suit up, every day. Put on the whole armor of God, because, even if you’ve dealt with one struggle or temptation victoriously, there will be others. Temptations never cease. 6. Even though it’s a jungle out there, you are not alone. As Jesus went through His struggle and desert experience, He was surrounded. Wild animals were there, the Bible says. But so were the angels. We don’t know if He could see the angels. But for sure, He could see the wild animals. It’s important. Tell your kids that God has promised He doesn’t sleep, He doesn’t slumber. And in the midst of a jungle-like world filled with wild and scary things, He is there, attending to our needs. | Top | Share Your Thoughts... Be the first to comment on this article! |
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Where better to get advice on how to speak to your sons (and daughters) than from the ultimate father, God Himself. Let’s take a look at how God spoke to His own son Jesus. The very first chapter of the Gospel of Mark mentions that when Jesus was about 30 years old, He began his public ministry. And the first step He made toward that end was into the water of the Jordan river to be baptized. He asked John the Baptist to do the honors. No mention in the Bible about where Joseph was the day Jesus was baptized. No mention of Mary, His mother, either. But since this was such a special occasion, God The Father spoke up. It was almost as if He couldn’t keep quiet at such a momentous time in the history of the world. Mark records the events that happened that day that I believe created a roadmap for all dads. 
