When the Lord delivered the people of Israel from the Egyptian army chasing them by drowning their soldiers in the Red Sea, as a token of gray, Moses sang a song to God. I will quote only a part of this song: “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” (Exodus 15:2).
Dear fathers, will our children be able to say the same thing about us, singing to the Lord: “My father’s God”? Can our children confirm that we have the testimony of the Living God in our lives?
Having predicted the coming of the forerunner John the Baptist, the prophet Malachi wrote the following words from God characterizing his ministry: “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:6). As we can see from this passage of Scripture, the issue of generation gap took place even back in those days. But what does the Lord desire? He wants us to learn to turn our hearts to one another. He desires our unity, which begins in our homes. We must ask God for wisdom on how to treat each other. Otherwise, based on this passage, the Lord may strike us with a curse. He hates the generation gap. The Holy Spirit unites, not divides.
Pick up the Concordance and write out all the scriptures that mention the word “father” with a lowercase letter. Have you noticed that the Lord asks account in the first place from fathers for raising children? In modern society, the role of a man in the family is being so violated that this has led to a passive attitude of men when it comes to taking responsibility. The concept of masculinity is despised. The concepts of the head of the family, the head of the wife are ridiculed not only by the people of this world, but also by the so-called “children of God” who oppose God’s will and His order. When a family has healthy relationships and the distribution of roles established by the Lord, then it is strong and unshakable, which, in turn, makes the Church strong. The devil knows that by destroying the institution of family, he achieves a weakening of the influence of the Church.
What is happening in the world of politics? The institution of family is trampled under foot. Instead of waging our war against the spirits of wickedness in high places and putting our relationship with God in order, gaining victory after victory over sin, unfortunately, people are ready to fight against blood and flesh, supporting those who pass laws that destroy our families. How shameful it is for pastors and ministers who haven’t learned or never even been spiritual fathers focusing on souls rather than ethnicities. Therefore, Paul wrote: “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15). Are you the kind of father who takes the headship into his own hands and begets his wife and children through the gospel, through the Word of God? How are you doing in this regard? Ministers must become fathers, not those who have a title only, but in essence being such – those who are ready to lay down their lives not only for the sake of their compatriots, but even for the sake of “pagans”, “Greeks” and “Romans”.
May this holiday be a reminder to us of the role that our Lord has predetermined for us, with Whom there is no change, no shadow of turning (James 1:17).
May the Lord lead you, dear fathers!
Max Volkov in Christ