‘Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” – John 5:19 (NKJV)
As a young lad growing up, I noticed a man, who I assumed was in his mid-thirties, walking along the street every morning carrying a cage in his hands. This individual would congregate at the corner of the street with other men (younger and older than himself). What was so amazing was all these men had birdcages in their hands.
Fast forward to my senior teenage years, I also observed this man’s son walking in the street early in the morning. He, too, was carrying a bird in a cage. Today, as a father, I understand the statement that Jesus made in the above text, that this son was only following in his father’s footsteps. Scripture says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV). The definition of the word “Train” means, “To teach” (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behavior through practice and instruction over a period of time.’ This was one thing the young man learned from his father.
Have you ever heard this statement “Like father, like son?” Yes? Let’s examine it from a positive and a negative perspective;
a) Positive – A father’s profession may be a lawyer, doctor, educator, bus driver, farmer, or motor mechanic, to name a few, and his son(s) follows in the father’s footsteps or elevates in another area of learning that brings a sense of pride and satisfaction to the family.
b) Negative – Some time ago, I was saddened to see several young men (all under the age of twenty) incarcerated. In a conversation, one told me his grandfather was incarcerated, as well as his father on several occasions, and now he was there for the first time.
Fathers, lead by example. No, not just any example but a godly example. Recently, my eldest son and I were sitting at the breakfast table having a conversation when his cellular phone rang. He picked up the phone, looked at the number calling, and handed the phone to me with these words, “Tell the individual (name mentioned) that I stepped out, leaving my phone to charge.” I smiled at him and handed him the phone with these words “lying is an abomination to the Lord.”.
Fathers, sons, and daughters are watching (our lifestyle) and listening (our conversations). So whatever we give out, know that is what will return to us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come to You today and confess that we are not always good examples to our children. Lord, we become so outraged by our children’s behavior that we want to institute the “Discipline Code of Conduct” on them, when in fact, Lord, they are only practicing what they have learned from us. So help us as fathers to lead our families to be good examples, in Jesus’s name, Amen.
Read: John 8:28-29; Exodus 34:7
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 35:1-10; Luke 2:21-40; Numbers 7:1-65
