Sometimes fatherhood feels like a lot to live up to. We forget how reflecting the love of Christ to your kids is so monumental. On one hand, there’s nothing better than the reciprocal love of a family—especially a family that is firmly rooted in Christ. But, as men, it’s all too easy to feel like we’re getting it wrong with our kids.
Making Wrong Choices About Our Kids
Sometimes we worry that we’re making wrong choices about our kids and their education, how and where we should raise them, and how to keep them safe. Other times we worry that we haven’t provided enough guidance about friendship choices or invested enough in them emotionally or spiritually. And, if you’re from a broken family, you may fear the heritage passed down to you, wondering: Will my marriage and kids manage to avoid being fractured the way my family was?
Don’t Believe the Lies of Self-Doubt
Fathers, don’t believe the lies of self-doubt that can creep in when we least expect them. Even on your worst day, you’re still called to be Dad to your kids. It all comes down to a call to be holy and anointed—these two important elements of Jesus’ life are meant to be part of our lives, too.
Although
we are called to be holy and anointed, some Christians may be intimidated by
this. “I live a moral life and I do my best to be godly—but holy? And anointed?
How can that happen, considering all my failures?”
Straight from Peter’s pen comes this instruction: “It is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy,’” (1 Peter 1:16). The only way this could ever be accomplished is if Jesus gave us his own holiness and anointing. And that is exactly what he did through his perfect sacrifice for us.
For 33 years, Christ lived on earth, perfectly reflecting spotless motives, speech, and actions. If he has been guilty of just one sin, he could not have paid for all our sins. But through his perfect life on earth, his payment for the sins of the whole world is thorough and endless.
How to Be a Good Dad on Bad Days
Christ’s work for us—his crucifixion, death, and resurrection—did more than cleanse us of sin. He also imparted to us his righteousness. Think about what an amazing thing this is: While all our sin is on him, all his righteousness is on us. One of the sins we must be cleansed of is the deep belief that our behavior makes us righteous. We can never earn our way to a higher level of righteousness; we are made righteous by him alone.
Perhaps you are feeling holy on days when you are doing well; you’re worshipful and conscious of God in every way. But do not mistake that for a state of holiness because you will never be holier than Jesus’ blood makes you, even on your worst day.
By his power, you are his worthy witness, not just in good times, but in bad times. Not just on the days when you are nailing fatherhood, but also when you’re making mistakes. His sacrifice frees you from sin and makes you righteous. And with God the Father as your example, you can find freedom as a Dad.
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