Traits of a Great Dad

Chuckle: "A father is the parent who is busy doing his children's homework while they are busy watching television!"

Ponder This: "A child is not likely to find a Father in God unless he finds something of God in his father." --Austin L. Sorenson

TRAITS OF A GREAT DAD

"You yourselves are our witnesses -- and so is God -- that we were pure and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy" (1 Thessalonians. 2:10-12 NLT).

Father’s Day is a great time to look at what God wants a man to be. I believe God wants a man who knows he is a man and proud of that fact. But at the same time He wants a man with a soft and tender heart that is sensitive to others and to God's will. This is the kind of man and father God wants you to be. In our passage, we see a portrait of a loving father. Let's examine the traits of a great Christian dad.

A great dad is able to express his love for his children, both in words and deeds. But expressing love does not come naturally for most men. Most have to learn how to love and expressing that love is a sign of strength, not weakness.

A great dad lives a transparent life. “We gave you not only God's Good News but our own lives” (vs. 8). Notice the connection between “Good News (gospel)” and “lives.” It's one thing to tell the gospel story, but another to live it out for all to see, especially your children.

A great dad teaches his children the value of hard work. "We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone" (vs. 9). Great dads teach a healthy work ethic to their children in two ways. First, we teach by example, and second we let our children learn by doing. We give them the opportunity to do things, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes.

A great dad shows genuine faith. “You yourselves are our witnesses -- and so is God -- that we were pure and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.” As a father, you are the spiritual leader of your home whether you realize it or not. You will either lead your family to God or away from God. Your children need to see you worship, read the Bible, and pray at home as well as in church.

A great dad is a positive influence on his family. “And you know that we treated you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy.” That is what a great father does. He encourages, comforts, and urges his children to live godly lives. And he does it in positive ways. He doesn't focus on negatives such as "don'ts," "can'ts," and "stops."

Here are two other passages which provide encouragement and advice to fathers. "And now a word to you fathers. Do not make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4 NLT). "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6 NIV).

Love, Jerry & Dotse