Devotion For Dads 1
As you prepare for this devotion time, prayerfully reflect on your family and/or extended family. Did your family have an influence on you? on your friends? in the neighborhood? Identify specifics - Did friends enjoy time in your home; or did you prefer going to your friends' homes? Did you enjoy a peace and comfort in your family; or did you seek that with friends or extended family? What provided the 'peace and comfort'?
Family
Times like these: 'Father Knows Best' and 'Leave It to Beaver' were popular family TV shows in the '60's and '70's. Do you remember them? How about the relatively recent 'Bill Cosby Show'? Each of these shows consistently reflected two things in every episode: a rock-solid marriage relationship and the family eating dinner together. When the 'Bill Cosby Show' was cancelled, one reason given was that the show no longer reflected the family of today. So today, we have 'The Simpsons'. Enough said. What is the word on family today? Is a strong marriage foundational for relationships in the family? Does family time, or lack thereof have an influence on other relationships in our lives? Discuss.
Family per Webster's New World Dictionary - all the people living in the same house; a social unit consisting of parents and the children they rear. What does 'family' bring to mind for you? Is there a social responsibility for mom and dad to rear their children? To rear is to build, to grow, to bring to maturity by educating and nourishing - How did your family rear you? Share some of your experiences growing up.
Rate the following for your dad or father-figure's legacy of family that you are building upon on a scale of 1-10, with one being a 'weak legacy' and 10 being a 'strong legacy':
- A solid marriage relationship with your mom;
- A home of encouragement and support;
- A good balance of appropriate affection and effective discipline;
- A self-discipline grounded in a growing relationship with Jesus the Christ; and,
- A church home as an extension of your family.
Rate the above again for your home today. How do the numbers compare?
The Word on family is:
Scripture - Gen. 6:14-18 'Make for yourself an ark of cypress wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. … the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. … I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark - you and your sons and your wife, and your sons' wives with you."
- Share a personal story of someone that reflected a high level of commitment to building his family, grounded in faith, and how that impressed you.
Share the impact that had on you.
Family analogies with the ark in scripture:
- Make an ark 300X50X30 cubits - Marriage & family that will stay strong through the storm;
- Pitch on the outside - Discipline in Christ to keep worldly influences in check;
- Pitch on the inside - Integrity of family, grounded in faith, reinforcing discipline;
- With rooms - Provision for the next generation;
- We are called to build up family that will have a Christian influence in the world.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the blessing that is family. Help me understand and step up to the physical, social and spiritual responsibilities as the husband and father You call me to be. I know that in Your strength I can build a family that will stand firm against the storms of life, a legacy to continue for generations. Forgive me my trespasses, and help me forgive those that trespass against me. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil, that my family may be an ark on top of the flood waters of worldly influence, by Your grace and for Your glory. Amen.
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