The Father Lens: Helping Your Kids See Who God Is Through Who You Areનમૂનો

Your Children Need Your Provision

When Adam and Eve stepped out of the boundaries of God's protection, He wasn't afraid to hold them accountable. He'd given them His perfect presence and His perfect protection. Now, even when they messed up, He was going to give them His loving provision—ultimately providing them with a Savior.

1 Timothy 5:8 warns dads against the danger of not providing for their families (KJV).

God has called you to provide not just physically for your family, but even more importantly, to provide clear spiritual leadership for your home.

This starts with helping your children come to Jesus. Dads must first and foremost lead their families to Christ. Because if we’re not careful, we can have clearly defined goals for every other area of life, but then just hope for the best when it comes to our families and their spiritual heart condition.

Here's the challenging reality: your children were created to see who God is through who you are, and they will primarily see Him through the lens of your life.

Recently, my vision started to mirror my age, and I had to get reading glasses for the first time. Looking through those lenses provides clarity—but only if they're clean.

The same is true for us as fathers. God has placed us as "the lens" through which our children see and understand who He is. If that lens is dirty—harsh, absent, or inconsistent—they'll struggle to see their Heavenly Father clearly.

God requires us to be both a father and a daddy.

As fathers, we're disciplinarians and enforcers. As daddies, we're full of grace and tenderness. Both are essential: Rules and relationship. Truth and grace. Father and Daddy.

If your children were to judge who God is by looking at who you are in their lives, what would they see? Are you providing them with the presence, protection, and provision they need to have a proper perspective of who God is?

Be encouraged: With God's help, you can be the clear lens through which your children see their Heavenly Father.

What is one way you can provide clearer spiritual leadership in your home this week?

Prayer: "Heavenly Father, thank you for being both my Father and my Daddy. Help me to reflect both your leadership and your love to my children today."

If you enjoyed this reading plan, you'll love my guide on how to meet your child’s five greatest needs. Click here to get it!—5 Things Kids Need from Dad More Than Anyone Else.