What's a Dad to Do?

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

1635 Father’s Day Flower

The official flower on Father’s Day is the dandelion, because the more it is trampled upon, the better it grows.

In this classic passage God gives dad's direction in how to be the kind of dad that will impact the next generation for Him.

Verses 4–9 are known as the “Shema” (Heb. for “hear”) and were recited daily as a creed by devout Jews

I. Walk with God Yourself (4-6)

A. Know Who He Is – He's the one and only true and living God.

“Happy they that have this one Lord for their God; for they have but one master to please, but one benefactor to seek to. It is better to have one fountain that a thousand cisterns, one all-sufficient God than a thousand insufficient ones.”

Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible

B. Love Who He Is

1. With your Heart – the seat of your emotion and will. Show a passion for Jesus Christ from your heart not just as a show but as the real thing.

2. With your Soul – your life, that which makes you alive. It came from God in the first place. My life was spent doing...? working, playing, or living for Jesus.

3. With your Might – physical strength.

C. Love What He Commands –

Psalm 19:7-11
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.

II. Help Your Family Walk with God (7-9)

A. Teach Them God's Word

1. Sitting – dwelling in your home. Eating meals? Entertaining guests? Handling finances? Relating to your wife? Spending time with the Lord?

2. Walking – when you are going from one place to another. Your manner of life. In the car is a good place. Discipleship of your kids. [Charis and I looking at ants]

3. Resting – Lit. sleeping. While your relaxing. How do you relax? Are the movies and TV shows you watch with them instructing them in the things of the Lord. They are instructing them one way or another.

4. Working – be in a standing position. Even if they can't be at work with you. When you talk about your work and what you do what are you teaching your kids? To complain about the people you work with? That money is most important. Or are you teaching them to care for people, work hard no matter how difficult the circumstances, etc.

1638 Penny’s Father Didn’t Laugh

If it had not been for a crooked groceryman, J. C. Penney might have become the owner of a grocery store rather than the owner of a dry goods chain and the nation’s leading merchandiser.

When he was a teenager, Jim worked for a groceryman in Hamilton, Missouri. He liked the work and had plans to make a career of it. One night he came home and proudly told his family about his “foxy” employer. The grocer had a practice of mixing low quality coffee with the expensive brand and thus increasing his profit. Jim laughed as he told the story at the supper table.

His father didn’t see anything funny about the practice. “Tell me,” he said, “if the grocer found a supplier was palming off an inferior product on him for the price of the best, do you think he would think they were just being foxy, and laugh about it?”

Jim could see his father was disappointed in him. “I guess not,” he replied. “I guess I just didn’t think about it that way.”

Jim’s father instructed him to go to the grocer the next day and collect whatever money due him and tell the grocer he wouldn’t be working for him any longer. Jobs were not plentiful in Hamilton, but Mr. Penney would rather his son be unemployed than be associated with a crooked businessman.

B. Display God's Word to Them

1. With Your Hands

2. With Your Head – Today we do this with bumper stickers and t-shirts, but we could also do it with web pages, face book, or a tag at the end of your emails.

3. With Your Home – [Scripture all around the house]

Does no good to have scripture written on something if you are aren't living what it says.

the wearing of the Tephilim, or frontlets, a permanent obligation. The form was as follows: Four pieces of parchment, inscribed, the first with Ex 13:2–10; the second with Ex 13:11–16; the third with De 6:1–8; and the fourth with De 11:18–21, were enclosed in a square case or box of tough skin, on the side of which was placed the Hebrew letter (shin), and bound round the forehead with a thong or ribbon. With regard to the other usage supposed to be alluded to, the ancient Egyptians had the lintels and imposts of their doors and gates inscribed with sentences indicative of a favorable omen [Wilkinson];

A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments

Have you ever been on an airplane and actually paid attention to the safety speech that the flight attendants give? They show you how to buckle and unbuckle the lap belt, where the exits are, and then they always show you how to use the oxygen masks that fall from the ceiling if the plane loses pressure... “Secure the mask on your face first and then help younger passengers.” Dad's, it is the same with our love of the Lord. We must first secure the life giving Savior in our own hearts and then help our sons and daughters to depend on Him also.

If you haven't already, determine that you will be that kind of dad starting today.