The Real Deal Dad: Authentic Fatherhood

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Galatians 4:6

 Recommended Reading: Romans 8:15-16

We all have one; many of us are one—a father, that is. As we honor the fathers in our lives this weekend, it’s a good time to ask: What is an authentic father like? Books are available on the subject, but is there one infallible source by which to evaluate fatherhood?

Not even the Bible says, “These are the traits of a good father.” We have something else, however. We have the example of our divine Father, our Heavenly Father, who is the spiritual Father to all who believe. And “all” includes today’s dads. The Bible makes a clear point of saying we have been adopted into God’s family, the head of which is God the Father. So we do have a perfect example of the traits of an authentic father: God Himself. There are many traits of God revealed in Scripture, but how about the traits manifested by God the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Dads, the more you know and spend time with your Heavenly Father, the more like Him you will become.

A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.
Billy Graham