On the father’s shoulders.

At Midnight on Saturday the 20th of June a few things change. Firstly, it becomes Sunday, secondly the season officially begins to change, and thirdly it’s Father’s day. So, from Sunday the 21st of June the sun starts drawing closer to the earth, the days get longer and the nights get shorter. This happens every year either on the 20th or 21st of June. The date of father’s day varies more, but also comes around every year. Why mention this? It’s a day of change, change for the better and we are desperate for change for the better.

We especially need change in South Africa, and we desperately need change regarding our fathers in South Africa. Almost two thirds of children in South Africa grow up without their fathers. What difference does that make? Here are some statistics from an American study:

For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” - Genesis 18:19 ESV

63% of people who commit suicide come from fatherless homes
70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes
80% of rapists motivated by displaced anger come from fatherless homes
85% of children with behavioural problems come from fatherless homes
90% of homeless children come from fatherless homes

We don’t have to look far to see how the inordinately high rate of violent crime (particularly against women and children) is in South Africa correlates with the high percentage of fatherless homes. Is it just a co-incidence?

The role of the father is not a social construct, the Bible consistently shows that God created men to carry particular responsibilities in marriage and in families. When men are present and performing those responsibilities, marriages work better, families work better and our communities are ultimately stronger. There is a disturbing movement denying the unique and valuable role of men in our society, especially as fathers, and it’s contributing towards a disastrous situation.

We need more than ever, to turn back to the Scripture, the Word of God and follow God’s directions for fathers and their families. We as fathers need to stand up and prioritise God’s directives for us, and commit ourselves to shouldering the responsibilities He has chosen for us. We need to encourage, support and hold our fathers accountable to these responsibilities or else we will all continue to face the consequences.

God is the ultimate Father and He sent His Only Son to reconcile us to Him and make it possible for us to become the people He designed us to be. Let us meditate on Him and cry to Him to restore our families, and raise up our fathers.

Prayer.

Dear Father God, we are so grateful that You are our Father in heaven. Thank You for protecting us, providing for us, disciplining us, teaching and encouraging us. Please help us Lord to encourage and support the fathers of our families, communities, and Church to take up and champion the role that You have created them for. Please heal our country by healing the families in our country. Please help our leaders to put measures in place to encourage fathers to return to their families and shoulder the responsibilities that You have assigned them. Please help us as fathers to be present, to lay down our needs in favour of the needs of our wives and children, not just by providing for them, but by loving and teaching them Your ways. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Worship.

Creation sings the Father's song; He calls the sun to wake the dawn
And run the course of day Till evening falls in crimson rays.
His fingerprints in flakes of snow, His breath upon this spinning globe,
He charts the eagle's flight; Commands the newborn baby's cry.

Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing, "Hallelujah!"
Fill the earth with songs of worship; Tell the wonders of creation's King.
Creation gazed upon His face; The ageless One in time's embrace

Unveiled the Father's plan Of reconciling God and man.
A second Adam walked the earth, Whose blameless life would break the curse,
Whose death would set us free To live with Him eternally.

Creation longs for His return, When Christ shall reign upon the earth;
The bitter wars that rage Are birth pains of a coming age.
When He renews the land and sky, All heav'n will sing and earth reply
With one resplendent theme: The glories of our God and King!

Service.

The Bible calls on Fathers to lay down their lives for their wives, and for wives to respect their husbands. God calls on children to respect, honour and obey their fathers. Wherever or whoever we are, we can pray for the strength to obey these commandments and encourage each other to do the same. Pray for our fathers to hear the Word of the Lord and to seek His ways. As a family we need to draw together and help our fathers to shoulder the responsibilities they’ve been given. The Church begins in families, with fathers teaching, encouraging and leading by example. We have to schedule time to be together as families to study Scripture, Pray, Worship and serve God in loving each other and making disciples. If we’re in a family without a father, we need to teach our sons to become the selfless, strong and humble fathers God designed them to be, and our daughters how to love, respect and support their husbands. Take this fathers day week to refocus on being the Church in the home, with each member of the family taking up the responsibilities that God has given us.

Read and discuss these passages as a family:

Ephesians 5:22-33.

Ephesians 6:1-4.

Proverbs 4:1-4.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9.