CHOOSY FATHERS CHOSE JESUS
Published by Stanley Pouw in 2010 · 20 June 2010
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
I’d like to preach one of those uplifting "Mother’s Day" sermons for our Fathers. Why? Because I believe that being a Christian father is one of the highest callings any man can ever achieve in his life.
But before I preach, I would like to give you brief history about Father’s Day. The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909.
Having been raised by her father, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man.
Her father was born in June, so naturally she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th day of June 1910. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.
I would like to say this evening that a Christian father is one of the most un-praised, unnoticed, and unappreciated heroes of all times. Well, being that today is Father’s Day, I would like to talk to you this evening about “Choosy Father” Why? Because choosy fathers chose Jesus.
Brother and sisters, we could search the scriptures in many different places for an example of a Godly father. And I think that you would all agree that one such father is without a doubt, Joshua.
Beloved brothers and sisters, I could have chosen many different men to discuss this evening, but the example of Joshua suits our case. We see here in Chapter 24, Joshua at the ripe old age of 110, calling a meeting of the leaders of Israel to Shechem for a farewell address.
Joshua charged the children of Israel to obey the Lord who had fought for them and given them an inheritance. We see here, Joshua warning them of the danger of apostasy, by saying, “Choose you this day whom you will serve...”
Thank God today for Christian fathers who follow the example of Joshua. Who in spite of their riches, in spite of all their prosperity, have enough guts to say: I don’t care what the psychologists are saying, I don’t care what trends may be going on in the world, I want to care for my children and my wife.
I thank God today for Christian fathers who follow the example of Joshua and aren’t afraid to side against what other worldly role models are saying about marriage or teenage promiscuity. I thank God today for men who aren’t afraid say that homosexuality is wrong.
Look at verse 15 again, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Here we have a father who decided that in spite of what everybody else was doing, that he was going to chose, serve and fear the Lord. Joshua’s farewell address is an excellent example of a father/child relationship. I thank God for Christian fathers like Joshua, who not only gave us life, but also teach us how to live.
God uses the "Father/child" examples as a model to explain our relationships with Him. It is this relationship that is our highest calling. When we pray to Him, we pray as Jesus taught us, "Our Father, which art in heaven..." Why Father? Because God teaches us the importance of that father-child relationship.
There are lots of things that we could say about Joshua, but for the sake of time I want to mention just two qualities that he possessed that all fathers would do well to emulate.
1. He was the Priest of the His Home. We see on our text, Joshua acknowledging his responsibility for the spiritual life of his family. Notice that it is Joshua who is doing the speaking for the family -- he declared their intent.
But before you can consider yourself priest of the home you must first possess certain qualities. Yes, in order to be a priest you must first be in close contact with God. And then you must practice this first in your own family. And according to the Bible, it is the family that was designed to be the basic educational unit.
This scripture says that Joshua was not out of order in speaking for his family. He was simply doing his fatherly duty to make sure that his children know who to believe in and how to walk in the ways of the Lord. I read somewhere that “A boy loves his mother, but he will follow his father.” So the question to you men is, where are you leading your children to?
Awhile back I heard the story of a humble pastor whose young son had become very ill. After the boy had undergone an extensive series of tests, the father was told of the news that his only son had a terminal illness. The youngster had accepted Christ as his Savior, so the minister knew that death would usher him into glory.
But he wondered how to inform one in the bloom of their youth that he soon would die. After earnestly seeking the direction of the Holy Sprit, he went with a heavy heart through the hospital to the boy’s bedside.
When he got there he read his son a passage of scripture, then he said a prayer with his child. Then he gently told him that the doctors could promise him only a few more days to live. And he went on to ask his son “Are you afraid to meet Jesus, my boy?” Blinking away the tears, the little boy said bravely, “No, not if He is anything like you, Dad!”
2. The Second quality that Joshua possessed is that he had a Plan for the Family. Being priest of the family is not enough. The Christian Father must also have a plan for the spiritual life of his loved ones. Joshua’s plan was, “we will serve the Lord.”
You see, when Joshua spoke his voice rang with the sound of unity, “me and my house.” We must have togetherness. The reason that unity was there was due to Joshua’s godly character. His faith was genuine and authentic and as a result his family said, “Whatever you say, Dad, we will agree.”
Through Joshua’s example we can see that when the family is united, it will endure the trials that come its way. Joshua was determined to persevere with his family. He was prepared to stand-alone with his family if necessary.
Let’s talk about the family for a minute. You know, nowadays we have a whole lot of women saying things like, I can or I do that all by myself, and proclaiming that they don’t need a husband.
My question to you is this, “Can the family get along without fathers in the home? Are dads disposable, like dirty pampers? Are they needed for a healthy family?”
Men, I have a feeling that every “single” mother in this room probably has a similar story to tell us if time allowed them to speak this evening. Oh, there might be a few variations here and there, but I think that their stories would sound very similar.
This single mother, you know the one who works two jobs, regularly shops at the thrift store for her needs, drives an older car that’s in the shop frequently, you know the one that is behind on her bills and often has to borrow money from friends to make ends meet.
Well, I know your pain; it is nearly impossible for one person to fulfill the role of two. God’s plan is that it takes two parents to raise a child, yes, a mother and a father. What a woman needs is a father to together raise their children. That’s why Christian fathers are such a valuable entity.
We need more men who are willing take up the cross of Jesus Christ, not just for our own salvation, but also for the salvation of our children. Fathers first are responsible for the physical welfare of their children.
Like Jairus was in Mark 5:23 when he came to Jesus and said, "My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, that she may get well and live." And like the royal official did in John 4:49 "Sir, come down before my child dies."
Spiritual Christian fathers need to follow the example of Joshua and be willing to teach them new spiritual truths. Job 1:5 says, "And it came about, when the days of feasting had completed their cycle, that Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. Thus Job did continually."
Unfortunately, not every child has a father like Job. Eli the priest disgraced his calling because he did not rebuke his evil sons and take responsibility for their spiritual welfare.
Scripture says, "For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever." (1 Samuel 3:13-14)
All fathers, I want to tell you this evening that you are responsible for the spiritual condition of your children. Your wife will certainly work with you, but you are ultimately responsible. We must never shirk that responsibility like Eli did; instead, we must be active like Job in the spiritual development of our children.
And we see this point many times in Deuteronomy 6:6-9, where it says, “6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Hey fathers, how much time do you personally spend with your children? Are you investing in your children more that investing in your job, or your business ventures? Remember what God says about where you invest your time in Galatians 6:7, “God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”
The way your children become as adults has a great deal to do with the time you spend with them now. Fathers and mothers, now is the time to teach them what you really think of God by showing them where your real priorities are.
Christian fathers are also responsible for the emotional well being of their children. They need to love them like David did. We all know that David was not a perfect father. He certainly made his mistakes, but I am impressed with the love he showed toward Absalom.
In 2 Samuel 18:5 where we find recorded "And the king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom."
Well what you mean? For those of you not familiar with this Bible passage, to put it simple, Absalom was in rebellion against his father King David, and was trying to take over the kingdom. He was an enemy of the throne, yet David loved him because he was his son.
Men, your children will disappoint you from time to time, but that should not stop you as a Christian Father, from loving them. Fathers, have you blessed your children? Do they know by your actions that they are special in your eyes? Have you told them you are proud of them?
Other people will be their friends, their mentors, and their coaches. But no one else will ever be their father. Only you can fulfill that role. They need the physical, spiritual and emotional provisions that God has instructed you to impart to them.
But if you are a Christian father, it is not just your duty, it is your joy! Once you become a Christian Father you will find joy in getting up in the middle of the night for your children’s sake. There is joy in claiming the toughest of victories for your children’s sake.
No matter how difficult the challenges, a Christian father knows that the darkest nights are always followed by the brightest days. No matter how difficult the challenges, a Christian father knows that the heaviest burdens are always followed by the greatest blessings. The strongest temptations are always followed by the decisive moment of triumph! Christian Father knows that the worst battles are always followed by the sweetest victories!
So let me ask you this evening, are you living your life with a commitment that is pleasing to God? Are you really committed to your family by giving it time and energy? Are you sharing your faith, studying the Word together, praying together, being faithful to your children and the church?
This evening, God’s calling you to be fully committed to Him. He will not do what He desires in your life until you give yourself fully to Him. He never asks you to give up something that He doesn’t replace with something greater.
Men, God is challenging you this evening to take the next step. There’s no excuse you can make that will cover up your lack of commitment and service to Him. Men it is time to stand up like Joshua -- and show your family and your children how they should be serving God, Amen?