“An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.” Titus 1:6
Second only to his faithfulness to God is a father’s faithfulness to his wife. His faithfulness to his children starts with faithfulness to his bride. The best gift he can give his children is fidelity in his marriage to their mom. A father’s example of faithfulness breeds faithfulness in his family. The generational flow of faithfulness has a higher probability of success, because good values tend to reproduce good values.
“The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation” (Numbers 14:18).
Your faithfulness to your wife sets off security in your son or daughter. Even if your wife has been unfaithful—you remain faithful—because your heavenly Father fuels your faithfulness. There is a higher call for a man whose heart has been captured by heaven. You do not lower your standards to what everyone else does on earth. Faithfulness remains faithful—even when a loved one is unfaithful—as this is the way of the Lord.
“The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes” (Hosea 3:1).
What if I have been unfaithful? Return to God in confession and repentance. Take responsibility for your unwise decisions in the past and replace them with wise decisions in the present. Unfaithfulness from a wife or husband does reap a lifetime of consequences, however, in Christ there is healing, forgiveness and the faith to move forward. So, avoid the ugly outcomes of unfaithfulness and remain faithful by faith.
“Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them” (Hosea 14:9).
Above all else, Almighty God is faithful to His children, even in their unfaithfulness. Therefore, fathers go often to your heaven Father for an infusion of integrity and perseverance. Your family, friends and community look to you as an example of what it means to surrender to your Master Jesus Christ. Be a faithful follower of the Lord and your circle of influence will follow you faithfully. A father’s faithfulness forges faith.
“For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:5).
As a father how can I be a good model of faithfulness to the Lord and my family?
Related Readings: 1 Samuel 12:24; Psalm 31:23; Proverbs 28:20; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Timothy 2:13
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
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