HONORING OUR FATHER

God revealed Himself to us as our father.  Jesus said to pray "Our Father, which art in heaven...".

But when a child does not know his heavenly father (or even his earthly father), his belief system may easily be swayed.  That is true on an individual level as well as on the national level.  If we do not know what our founding fathers set out for us, we can drift from those moorings.

In a day of divergent cultural thought, one sweet spot of agreement is that fathers are key to healthy child development.  Both secular and faith-based leaders link arms in their high regard for fatherhood.

That is why it is curious that fathers are held up to ridicule in the media.  We used to have an electric friend to fathering when the television showed Andy Taylor mentoring Opie...or when Cliff Huxtable steered his crew.  Now the sitcoms characterize fathers as bumbling schlubs.

Today I was listening to Dr. Michael Youssef salute fathers.  He used the first chapter of Job to explain a father's high calling as "family priest".  Dr. Youssef says that of all the roles a father assumes, this one as family priest is the most important.

Imagine the societal salve if all men were aware of this potential!  If you have 25 minutes, click on this  LINK  to hear Dr. Youssef's great exortation.  

The three things I took away from his talk illustrate how Job understood his role as family priest:

COMMITMENT
Scripture says Job was a righteous man.  He had a holy fear of the Lord which was lived out in front of his family by a DAILY sacrifice offering for EACH of his ten children.  Job reasoned "perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts".

As the offering was consumed and the smoke rose to heaven, Job's hope was the burning sacrifice would assuage God's burning anger over sin.  Of course, Job was not "covering" his sons' sin, but showing his understanding of the human heart and calling his boys to examine themselves and seek forgiveness.  


Assuming the burnt offering cost Job ten of his flock each day, those kids waked each morning to observe their Dad's first activity of the day was to give up for them of his riches (flocks) because he trusted God to provide.  .Job was an intentional shepherd in his family's spiritual life.  

CARING
Scripture says Job was highly regarded in his family and his community.  Caring for others must have sifted down into the kids' lives because they demonstrated brotherly love.  Job 1:4 says that Job's sons used to go and hold a feast in each other's homes, and they included their sisters as well.

Their dad was a family priest who was a leader... generous, hospitable and engaged in his family.  The children followed his footsteps.

CONSISTENCY
Scripture says Job was steadfast.  He was not one way with others and different at home.

Who could doubt Job's consistency?  When God gave Satan permission to buffet Job, this dear man held fast.  In the face of alarming calamity, we can read his response in Job 1:20,21.  It says when the unspeakable happened, he WORSHIPPED, saying "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Surely that response was made possible by the Holy Spirit.   Job had a consistent walk with the Lord.


I'm just guessing that Job's report card must have had all "A's" in commitment and caring and consistency.  Does that seen unreachable?  Consistency is not perfection.  We know Jesus to be the only perfect One; the rest of us move forward as His enabling allows.  It is slack-cutting to realize that God equips and enables whatever He calls us to do.  


Today we no longer sacrifice animals, but we sacrifice time to model godly character...including "how to repent",  "how to put God first", and "how to give to the Lord".  AND we sacrifice in prayer.  Just as Job sacrificed an animal for each child, we pray daily for each child's individual needs.   


Women think they have a hard row to hoe because God calls them to submit.  But it's also hard work to achieve excellence as a family priest.  If your home has one, give thanks today.