Happy Father’s Day (19 Jun 2016)

The world celebrates Father’s Day, usually on the third Sunday in June. Fathers worked hard to bring income for the support of their families. It is to recognize the importance of fatherhood that is vital for their children’s wellbeing.

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,  15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,  16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love (Eph 3:14-17).

Firstly, as Christians, we all must worship and glorify our Heavenly Father. In the homes, Christian fathers serve and glorify the Heavenly Father by emulating Jesus the Son and abiding in the Holy Spirit. As the heads of their respective households, fathers should first be learners (disciples) of Jesus.  They can lead the family altars by making requests to God the Father and thanking Him before meals and bedtimes, by offering prayers for their wives and their children. This is proper since it is from the Heavenly Father that every family in heaven and on earth is named  (Eph 3:15).

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,..28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but  nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church (Eph 5:25-29).

Secondly, Christian husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for the church. Christ has set the example for the Christian husband to follow. The husband nourishes and cherishes his wife as his own body, just as Christ does the church (Eph 5:25, 29). Moreover, the family unit of husband and his wife is ordained by God for the noble ministry of spiritual upbringing of their children. The local church can at best supplement this noble task.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Eph 6:4)

Thirdly, Christian fathers must love their own children just as the Heavenly Father loves them. They fulfil their calling as earthly fathers by submitting themselves to the Heavenly Father’s loving discipline for themselves. In turn they can:

a)  Teach their own children the truths of God by their deeds and speech, so that their children may grow up believing in Jesus Christ.

b)  Bring up each child at different stages of their lives, according to the child’s temperament and abilities. Discipline their children with love, recognizing that they are also made in the image of God.

c) Provide for their spiritual, physical, intellectual, and emotional needs through the activities in the homes, schools and local church and neighbourhood.

 

Elder Yoong Yuen Soo