Exodus 20:12 “ Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.”

Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

When I read something in the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, the living Word of God, I know from verses like Psalm 119:160, John 17:17 & 2 Timothy 3:16 that they are truth from God to us. Once is enough, but when the same thing is mentioned 3 times (one being one of the Ten Commandments), there is an emphasis for a reason. God created man and woman (male & female) for procreation and family; a unit designed and equipped with roles and responsibilities this side of heaven for the generations (and extended including grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins). Though, for various reasons (avoidable or unavoidable), with no disrespect, the father, mother, child family unit may be missing a father or mother, the model for the nuclear family (the nucleus of father & mother) is the “best” for a home to every family member, when it is functions as God intended. It is easy to see that the family, lacks in perfection due to our human flaws from inexperience and errors (nobody is perfect), so need and depend upon the guidance and help of the Lord daily and always. Our honoring of our fathers here on earth, mirrors our honoring of our Heavenly Father, who created and sustains us. The obedience and submission to our earthly fathers is a model image of our obedience and submission to our Father (Lord God) in heaven. I write this to build the foundation for singling out the vital role of fathers today; this day that we honor our fathers and their role in our lives.

Psalm 44:1 “We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, In days of old.”

Men have many wonderful responsibilities (id est. being a loving husband – Ephesians 5:25 , providing for the family - Psalm 104:23, spiritual leader – Psalm 34:11 , protecting and caring for the family - 1 Timothy 3:5, fathering, - education, rising and training children - Proverbs 22:6 , … for a few) to be a father, dad, papa. It is certainly sad when a man does not strive to meet his responsibilities or fulfill his obligations as a godly father. But a true blessing to his wife and children when he works towards being the man that God designed and intended him to be. The greatest honor and privilege that a father can have is leading his children to a “saving” knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, advancing the kingdom of heaven within his family, and leaving a legacy for the next generation of Believers on the road to eternity, following our Lord & savior Jesus Christ. God bless the godly father! We honor you today.

Psalm 78:1-4 “Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.”

God & family, in Christ,

Brian