"He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers”- Malachi 4:6 (NIV)
There was a recent story running in one of the leading Uganda dailies about “200 fathers who had defiled” their own daughters! This sobering news was already much known to those who are involved in running abortion rescue shelters, like Wakisa Ministries. After the lock-down they saw a steep rise in number of teenage pregnancy traced to “fathers” defiling their daughters.
Some of us might be curious how we got here. Of course there is the sinful nature of man manifested in such wickedness. As scripture says, “"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Aside, there is also socialization.
Many have observed that while mothers are mentored in their roles right from childhood, rarely are boys! Though mothers habitually sit with their daughters and share on living up to their expected roles once in a home, boys just grow into being fathers, having picked much of all they know from the boisterous play yard.
Then there is the case of boys who grow up in single homes, whose numbers is ever increasing. These have been denied the chance of seeing a father-figure, they can learn from. At times though even with the presence of a father in a home, the relationship is often abusive, without any love or care, much filled with violence.
It is therefore safe to assume that a great many boys have just stepped into fatherhood with the worst experiences, which they bring to a home, and soon exhibit in the worst excess, including incest as we have seen!
The role of a father in a home is first and foremost of a priest. Before David was king to a nation he was head of his household, making sure he blesses them (2 Samuel 6:20). Many of us are not aware of these priestly roles, stopping at only providing, if at all, without embracing the role of leading a house in the fear of God. And just as mothers sit down with their girls to mentor them into proper roles, perhaps it’s about time, Christian fathers habitually sit down with their sons to mentor them in what fatherhood is all about!
Prayer for today: Lord Farther God, maker of heaven and earth, how I thank you for fatherhood as we see in the life of your earthly father Joseph, who led his household with love, care and fear of God, and may we learn from such to grow the next generation of fathers worthy of emulation, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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02/05/2024 - 03/05/2024 All day“That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10)
We all crave to be blessed in life. But was there a believer who was so blessed beyond any circumstances without experiencing some sort of discomfort, in one way or another! A person may apparently be blessed in every single way yet have one troubling matter that constantly drives him down to his knees.
The one mightily blessed with riches may have a family situation that leaves him ever on edge. Someone who seems to be at the height of his profession may be living with an ailment that keeps him ever on tentacles. The one blessed with abundant health might from time to time be dealing with financial woes.
Why do such troubling situations plague even believers? One explanation could be found in the Apostle Paul’s life. Called into ministry and endowed with many gifts, including amazing revelations from above, yet he had a matter that constantly drove him on his knees. “Therefore in order to keep me from being conceited, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me” (2 Cor 12: 7).
Paul would often cry out to God to free him of this particularly troubling matter. But the Lord came back with, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Cor 12: 9).
The comfort of this lesson is that God is completely aware of whatever might be ever troubling us. Moreover, it could be purposely there, that we constantly place our faith in Him, other than relying on our strength and resources, especially as He blesses us in other uplifting ways.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray that whatever matter is constantly troubling me, I know it is for a purpose and you are in total control, to bless me even more, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
