A Father’s Faith: A dad’s responsibility.

Read 1 Kings 17:12 – “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

This is a great story of a miracle granted to a poor widow and her son. This widow was left in a horrible situation after the death of her husband. In some cases, nothing can be done to provide for the future of a family in the event of a dad’s death. Yet, in most cases today, a little planning will help our families to not fall apart after we have passed. Dads are responsible for their families even after they are gone from the scene. With that in mind, I encourage dads to look at the security of their families now so that later all things are well. I like to use the acronym "DIME" when looking at family security after a dad dies: Death Expense, Income, Mortgage Payoff and Education. You need to know what your death will cost, what income your family will need when yours is gone, the amount of money needed to pay off your mortgage and how much it will cost to educate your children. Be sure your family can survive and thrive by providing now for their future.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.

A Father’s Faith: A father’s last words.

Read 1 Kings 2:1-2 – When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man.”

A man’s last words are considered by some to be the most important. In this passage, David is dying and commands his son to be a man. David is leaving this earth and wants to give advice to his son on how to lead: Be a man! The best advice a dad can give his sons in our culture is the same as the advice David gave his son. Be responsible for yourself and others. Lead and love others while passing through this world. Be a man, not a child who needs pampering and care. Be a man who makes a difference in the world. Be a man so that the world you pass on to your children is better than the world that was left to you. Be a man!

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.

A Father’s Faith: A dad’s response to hostility within the family

Read 2 Samuel 13:30-31 – While they were on their way, the report came to David: “Absalom has struck down all the king's sons; not one of them is left.” The king stood up, tore his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

Older children who quarrel can be a heavy weight on a father’s heart. In this passage, the result of this family’s fight was murder. Most people, especially Christians, would like the world to think that their family is normal. The truth is that every family has issues and difficult relatives. As we should work towards unity and love in other parts of society, we should work even more so towards harmony within the family. A family that loves and respects each other will be able to handle any of life's struggles. A dad’s heart will be filled with joy if he is surrounded by family who have learned to care for one another.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.

A Father’s Faith: Dads who exhibit loving kindness to those beyond their own biological family

Read 2 Samuel 9:7 – “Don't be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

Saul was dead and David had become the new king of Israel. Saul was constantly trying to destroy the life of David, but through God’s divine plan David prevailed. Although pursued as an enemy by Saul, David never considered Saul his enemy. After David’s coronation he searched out Saul’s descendants that he might show them kindness. It speaks strongly of a man’s character when he can show kindness to another man's children. A child who has lost their father will never forget the kindness received from a man willing to fill that void in their life. Adopted dads can change the destiny of children who have been left without love, leadership and legacy. These dads offer orphaned children a heart full of love. Invest in the lives of someone else's children and you will certainly enrich your own life.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.

A Father’s Faith: God sees potential in children that a dad may not even see

Read 1 Samuel 16:10-12 – Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.”

The prophet Samuel was in the house of Jesse to anoint a new king for Israel. The sons of Jesse were brought before the prophet and all of them were denied. Their dad saw potential and opportunity, but he was only evaluating the outward qualities and not the inward character. They were good boys, but they were not the right boys. Jesse had one more son in the field, David. He was young and he was a shepherd boy; not a single kingly attribute could be seen in him. But when the prophet saw him, God made him aware of the boy’s calling. As the song says, when others see a shepherd, God sees a king. Dad, let God use you to bring out the full potential in your family. Don't judge your children to be shepherds when God measures them as kings!

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.

A Father’s Faith: The responsibility of raising children demands the guidance of the Lord

Read Judges 13:8 – Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: “O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.”

Manoah was soon to be the father of Samson. Manoah felt the need to seek the guidance of the Lord in the raising of Samson even before the child's birth. He recognized his child as a miracle and a precious gift of God. He wanted God's guidance upon the raising of his son. Every dad should seek the Lord for insight and awareness in raising their children. Raising greatness in a child can only be done by godly instruction. You might be able to teach them how to play baseball or conduct business by what you know. However, you can only teach them how to be people of God by teaching the Word of God and relying on His grace. Lean upon Christ for wisdom in raising your children.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.

A Father’s Faith: Dads should teach humility, but never humiliate

Read Judges 6:15 – But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

When Gideon said he was the least in his father’s house and that his father was among the poorest in Manasseh, he was expressing genuine humility. There are moments that call for bold and brash statements. There are also times when an expression of humility is required. Dads should teach their children how to be humble. There are times we all should bow and give reverence to others. Conversely, a child should never be humbled through humiliation. Humility is a godly attribute but humiliation is unkind and unwholesome. Scriptures say that God will lift the humble, and a child should be taught that truth. But to humiliate a child is to cripple him for life.  Strong children come from dads who instill pride and strength with humility.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.

A Father’s Faith: Dads should tell stories that children remember in tough times

Read Judges 6:13 – “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

Gideon is living in tough times and he is having a tough time. The Israelites were being ruined by invaders who took the best of the land. They found themselves needing to hide just to survive. An angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and declares that the Lord is with him. Gideon meets that message with a courageous response. He wanted to know where the miracles were that he had heard about from his father and why God seemed to have forsaken them? Somewhere in his boyhood he had listened to and believed the stories of miracles. He had heard about a God who loved him. Thank God for the daddies that give their children insight into a great God through such stories. When dad is gone, it will be those testimonies that give hope and guidance for his children. Dads who instill an awe of God into their children will have children who have a hope that is awesome!

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.

A Father’s Faith: A dad’s decision to serve the Lord

Read Joshua 24:15 – But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

No one can choose who another person will serve or where they will put their faith. But in the home, the father has to take the lead in what to believe. Joshua made it very clear that he and his family would serve the Lord. His children may wander off from that faith in later years, but while under his care and covering they would serve the Lord as a family. This is not being imposing or forceful, it is acting in leadership! It is not overbearing for a dad to take the lead in faith; it is obedience to the Word. God give us dads who declare, "As for me and my family we are going to serve the Lord!”

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: Dads who have business that separates the family

Read Exodus 18:2-4 – After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have become an alien in a foreign land”; and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, “My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

No doubt it was a wise move for Moses to leave his family in a safer country during the time he was leading the people of Israel out of Egypt. A family has to be willing to work together during the urgent moments of life. There are times when separation is something that cannot be avoided. When those times come, it is important that communication is ample and understanding is clear. If a family feels that their dad has abandoned them, then all kinds of negative situations can arise. Moses gave his children names that correlated with the mission of the family. It is likely that the family was constantly reminded of the need for Israel to move to the Promise Land. It is one thing to lead a nation to a promised land. It is quite another thing for a father to remember the promises he made to his family. The clearer a dad can communicate the mission of the family, the easier it is for the family to accept and adjust to the difficulties that may arise while following that mission. As you head toward your destination be sure your loved ones are part of the plan.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: A father’s courageous decision

Read Exodus 1:22-2:3 – Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live." Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.

Moses’ dad's name is not mentioned here, but his courageous decision is. Later, in the family tree listings, we find his name is Amram. Amram was faced with a horrific culture that required murdering the male Israelite babies. He chose to have a child, hide his child and eventually place his child in the hands of God. He was rewarded with a miraculous connection that not only saved his child but saved the nation of Israel. His bold actions gave God an opportunity to work, and positioned his son to be both leader and deliverer of Israel. Dads, you may not feel very important or that the decisions you make are vital, but make the courageous decisions to give God an opportunity to work through you. Dads who let God lead their decisions look courageous but are, in reality, just following the leadership of God.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: A father’s faith becomes a nation’s hope

Read Genesis 50:24-25 – Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

During this time in history, Joseph was one of the most respected men in Egypt. He served in the second-highest position of the land, following only Pharaoh. He saw both tough times and great times for the future of his family. He told them that God would visit them. His words were those of hope for Israel as they were to live four hundred plus years in harsh servitude. When all confidence that God would come through had died, they had the words of their father. When the labor was unbearable and looked as though it would never end, they had their father’s prophecy, "God will visit you and bring you out of this land!" They held onto that glimmer of hope until Moses, coming down to Egypt with a shepherd’s crook in his hand and fire in his heart commanded, "Pharaoh, let my people go.” To Israel, Moses was bringing fulfillment to the words of Joseph, "God will surely visit you and you will leave this place.” It is far better to leave your family a Great Hope than a little house.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: A dad’s funeral wishes

Read Genesis 50:5 – My father made me swear an oath and said, “I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.

No one likes to talk about death. Most of us would rather talk about anything besides dying. The truth is, you may ignore the subject for a time but all of us will have to deal with loved ones who die, and eventually deal with facing our own death. The best thing a person can do is to talk about their wishes once deceased, so those desires can be fulfilled at their passing. After a parent has given us the best that they have the least we can do is carry out their last wishes. They have entrusted us with the privilege of honoring them so we should do so faithfully. Funerals are for the benefit of those who are left behind after the passing of a loved one. May that event, no matter how hard, be done with dignity and honor.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: A father’s last words

Read Genesis 48:21 – Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers.”

Jacob’s last words to his sons were blessings and words of hope. Even at the hour of his death his wishes were for his children to succeed. It is part of the wiring of a dad. Even when his last breath is near, he thinks of his children. It is not fear of dying that consumes his last moments. His last moments are about giving a blessing to his children. All of his life is about extending his life through his children. The children of such a dad are blessed with this kind of man in their lives.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: Fathers teach children how to work

Read Genesis 43:11-12 – Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.

Dads are always coaching their children, even when they are grown. Children who have a father who is wise in business have something better than a MBA degree. A person can obtain knowledge in a university, but the wisdom to wield that knowledge comes through experience. That experience can either be learned by an individual’s own dealings or can be discerned by watching a successful father. A child who is wise will watch, listen and learn about life from their dad. The lessons may seem meaningless when first viewed, but later on in life those lessons will be precious indeed.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: A dad who loses a son

Read Genesis 37:34-35 – Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “in mourning will I go down to the grave to my son.” So his father wept for him.

Nothing is as painful as the loss of a child. When Jacob received news of his son’s death, it was as though he also lost his life. In this story, Joseph is actually kidnapped and will eventually be reunited with family, but for Jacob in this moment, he has lost a son. The weight and pain of such a tragedy is beyond comprehension. It just never seems right for a child to die before his parents. For the parent who has lost a child, we mourn with you and for you today. May the God of all comfort, comfort you!

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: Fathers who show partiality

Read Genesis 37:4 – When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

A dad has to be careful to love all his children the same. Jealousy among children is not an attitude that should be allowed to grow. While a dad cannot help at times feeling partial to a child, his actions must always be seen as equal to all his children. The attention you give a child may be the vitamin that creates dreams, strength and ambition in that child. The lack of equally shared love could be what keeps all your children from doing well. May all our children think, “My dad loved me the best!”

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: When a dad loses his dad

Read Genesis 35:28-29 – Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Every man deals with the loss of loved ones along the way. The loss of a father is hard, but is made easier by what he leaves behind. If that man has led, provided, protected and loved his family, he leaves a healthy family. His children remember not a dead man but a living stone. He has left his family the tools to succeed after his death. We weep at our loss but rejoice that he lived and will always live in us.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: A father who is a widower

Read Genesis 35:19-21 – So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel's tomb. Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder.

Nothing can leave a man as empty as losing his lifelong companion. The absence of his wife, best friend, and mother of his children is devastating.  Israel does two things that every child should see their dad do at the loss of their mother. He honored her by setting up a pillar –  a place to remember the woman he loved and to remember the love they had. Secondly, he moved on in life. Israel moved to a new location and lived his life. Every dad has to set the pace for the family. Honor the loved one and honor them more by moving on with life.

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.

A Father’s Faith: The role of a father as protector

Read Genesis 32:26 – Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Jacob was faced with a serious threat against his family. He devised a plan to change his situation and then committed the plan to prayer. He wrestled with the Lord all night. Finally at daybreak he received his blessing. Jacob held onto the Lord until he got his answer, even though it left him crippled. A dad's ability to protect can only go so far in this life. Then there comes time for every dad to wrestle with the Lord for the children God has given him. Prayer is mightier than the sword. No man can win unless he contends in the battlefield of prayer. The battle is won in prayer!

– David Raley serves as the Field Representative for Light for the Lost.
MM: The Mag – Featuring articles on a spiritual tune-up for men – now available at men.ag.org.