DADDIESS THAT MIRROR THE HEAVENLY FATHER!
Proverbs 3:1-12
INTRODUCTION: In all the world of a child, no word has the power of Daddy! Little Children cannot yet understand the concept of God, love, hope, faith, or sacrifice. However, the word Daddy; now there is power, love and an example of sacrifice to little children. Daddy always loves and protects us and daddy tells the best stories. Daddy, in your child’s eyes God is just like you. Your great love for your children should only be superseded by two greater loves. The love you have and show toward your heavenly Father, and the love you show from God to your children’s mother! Isaiah 64:7; Ephesians 6:4. Just as our heavenly Father molds us like clay so little children are to be molded by their daddy’s as they train them in the ways of the Lord.
I. DADDIES WHO LOVE THE LORD!
Godly daddies have always wanted the very best for their children. The Lord has laid out in His Word how important it is for godly daddies to raise their children in a way that would give Him godly offspring: Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Here in these six verses we find five steps, each on built upon the other to being a mirror reflection of our heavenly Father to our children. We as godly fathers must get these steps right in our own lives so we can build them into our children’s lives.
II. FIVE STEPS TO REFLECTING OUR GOD TO OUR CHILDREN!
- You daddy must know the Lord as your Lord and Savior! Deuteronomy 6:4. Daddy, do you know your Lord well enough to be able to introduce your own children to God?
John 17:3; Matthew 11:27. Daddy, in order to introduce your sons and daughters to the Lord the first step is you must know Him! - Daddies must love the Lord with all their heats and with all their souls and with all their might! Deuteronomy 6:5. Daddy, does that describe your love for your heavenly Father? Isaiah 29:13. Our Lord Jesus was asked one time what the greatest commandment was and guess what His answer was: Matthew 22:36-38. John 14:15, 21. It is through our obedience to our God’s commands that He will reveal Himself to us so we can reveal Him to our children. 1 Peter 3:18.
- Daddies must take God’s commands and place them in their hearts! Deuteronomy 6:6. Oh, daddy how we must come to love the Word of God and take it off the paper and put those words in our hearts! Psalm 119:97-104; Proverbs 3:1-8.
- Daddies must teach and talk to their children about the commands of the Lord! Deuteronomy 6:7. Daddies don’t know everything but if we know the Word of God and truly know our God as our heavenly Father we do know everything we need to know to introduce our children to our God: Deuteronomy 29:29; Psalm 19:1-3. Daddies we must redeem the time: Ephesians 5:16-17; Ephesians 6:4. Daddy this is your job!
- Daddies must show their children that in their house the Word of God is honored! Deuteronomy 6:8-9: Daddy have your children ever seen you pray before meals or lead them in devotions at bed time?
III. LOOKING ONCE AGAIN AT THE FIVE STRPS TO MIRRORING THE FATHER!
The nearer we get to step five the more visible those steps are to our children. Your children cannot see steps one to three, but without those they will never see steps four and five! Hebrews 11:6. Your children cannot see your love for God except as they see you obeying the commands of God.