Dads who encourage, comfort, urge

Jason HoetNews, Pastor

Today marks a celebration of father’s. Maybe it is not polite to mention today, but my observation is fathers often get negative reviews. Children reflect on how their fathers worked too much, were emotionally distant, too harsh, often absent, at times moody, at times scarily angry. Of course, this is not true of all fathers. Could this be because parenting is a product of the times? Possibly, fathers fifty years ago were meant to be all those things. Hopefully modern, enlightened fathers are finding a better way forward?

It fascinates me that the Apostle Paul, writing around AD 52 to the church in Thessalonica, describes a generous-hearted father. He uses a fatherly analogy to illustrate his own heart:

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

1 Thess 2:11-12

“Encouraging, comforting, urging”, what a terrific collection of behaviours. Surely, Paul, had a great dad to hold such a wonderful image? Is it a surprise that fathers nineteen hundred years ago could be so positive? I hope Paul’s words remind us that regardless of what era or culture we are in, the Bible presumes dads will encourage, comfort, and urge their children, for their best. Following verse 12, our children’s best is that they will “live lives worthy of God”.

Dad’s are certainly remembered by their kids for many good things. Their hard work, fun, insight, wisdom, security and more. This Father’s Day may our dads also be remembered for how they encouraged, comforted and urged their children to live lives worthy of God.

In Him,

Jason