Moment With The Master
“A Father With His Children”
Categories: Moment With The Master“as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)
Here Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his genuine concern for them. His sincerity was demonstrated by his refusal to use flattery to gain their approval. Paul’s only motive was to win them to the Lord!
In verse 12 Paul likens himself to a father with his children. Being a father of two, I know exactly how Paul felt. The three verbs Paul uses (exhort, comfort, and charge) vividly describe the action of a godly father. Let us look at these three verbs.
To “exhort” (Greek word parakaleo) means to come to the side of as a helper. Fathers, your children need more than just punitive discipline. They need you to be like a coach standing on the sideline and urging them to finish strong. They need your listening ear in late night talks.
“Comfort” is not used here in the sense that we use the word today. The word means to persuade. There is a tone of urgency in the gospel message. Paul might say, “I beseech you”. In the heart of every godly father is an anxious longing to know that his children are walking with courage, integrity, and decency in the holiness of God.
To “charge” is to urge. This is a word of discipline – a robust, masculine word. Fatherhood is not for sissies! However, it involves more than commanding and certainly not nagging. It is constantly coaching, gently pushing the child in the right direction
Life can be cruel. The world has a strong pull. The choices children make will be grave! Fathers, your children need your support. God entrusted you with precious children. Your job is to mold them into God honoring adults.
George Slover
