Listening to Dad: A Father's Day Teaching

Hey everyone! Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

So I was thinking—you know what dads REALLY want for Father's Day? Forget the funny tie. Forget the "World's Best Dad" coffee mug. Nope. You know what makes a dad really happy? When his kids actually LISTEN to what he says! 

Please turn to Ephesian 6.

I mean, think about it. When a dad says "please clean your room" and his kid actually cleans his bedroom? That's pure gold right there! When a dad says “Oh, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Maybe we should hold off on doing that right now” and his kid actually changes their way of thinking? That's awesome, right?

Well, guess what? Our Heavenly Father is the same way. He's all around us, and inside us, saying, "Please, just listen to me. Do what I tell you. I know what I'm talking about!"

In fact, God thought this was so important, He wrote it down in. Let’s read Ephesians 6:1. It says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." Notice it doesn't say "obey your parents when you feel like it" or "when it makes sense to you." It just says this is RIGHT. Period. 

Please turn to Mathew 7.

God as Our Loving Father

Let’s read Matthew 7:11. It says: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Basically, Jesus is saying, "Look, you knucklehead dads, if you know how to be decent parents, imagine how awesome God is at being a parent." That’s what that verse means.

God gives us advice all the time, tips, solutions, and yes, sometimes those "thou shalt not" commandments that keep us from doing some really dumb stuff. Who has Psalm 32:8? It says, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

That's God saying, "I've got my eye on you, and I'm gonna help you. Listen to what I’m saying." Good dads say that same thing too. 

Let’s turn to and read John 16:13. Jesus here is teaching people about receiving God’s gift of holy spirit when being born again. It says, "Howbeit when he (Strong’s Concordance, in Greek, ek-i'-nos, a neuter pronoun, meaning “that” or “it”), the Spirit of truth, is come, he (it) will guide you (like a leader or teacher) into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he (you) shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

That spirit of truth, that gift of holy sprit that you received when you were born again (Romans 10:9-10) is God in Christ in you (Colossians 1:27, Ephesians 3:16-17). That's God's still small voice talking to you. Telling you, guiding you, on which way you should go. Dads do the same thing. Just as a good dad guides his kids with gentle instruction, so does God's spirit provide internal direction. Holy spirit within is like your internal guidance system. 

And who has Proverbs 23:26? This verse is like God's ultimate Father's Day wish. It says, "My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." That’s God saying, "Just watch what I do. Watch what happens. This really works." Dads say the same thing. 

What Do Good Dads Tell Their Kids?

Now, let's look at stuff every-dads say and see how God says the exact same things. Coincidence? I think not!

1. "I Love You, Kid."

Every good dad says this (even if it's sometimes when his kid is not doing his best). And God? Well, he's been saying that forever!

• Who has Jeremiah 31:3? It says, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love." (Everlasting. That's like an infinite "I love you.”)

• 1 John 3:1 says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God" (We're not just random people—we're HIS KIDS!)

Okay, #2. What good dads say…

2. "Watch Out! That's Dangerous!"

You know how dads have that keen sense about danger? They say, "Don't do that!" Well, God's got that same protective instinct:

• Who has 2 Corinthians 6:14-18? It says, "Don’t be yoked together with unbelievers. Come out from among them, and be separate." (That's God saying, "Stay away from bad people and bad influences, kid.")

• 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (God's basically saying, "Heads up! Watch out. Look around. Bad guy alert!")

Another thing good dads say is…

3. "Don't Quit. Don't Give Up. Keep Going."

You know when a kid is struggling through a brutal final exam or trying to bring up those grades, a dad’s NOT gonna let his kid give up, right? God's the same way:

• Who has Colossians 3:23? It reads, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." (Give it your all, even if it's just doing the dishes.)

• Galatians 6:9 - "And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (That’s God saying to hang in there—your goal is within reach!)

What else do good dads say? 

4. "Be Nice to Your Sisters"

You know how a dad can be a referee between siblings? Well, God loves peace in the family too:

• Who has Ephesians 4:32? It says, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Be nice when your sister borrows your dress without asking. Forgive her and move on.)

• Luke 6:31 says, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." (Dads know the original Golden Rule: "Treat other people the way you want to be treated." This works great with siblings too.)

5. "I'll Always Be Here for You, No Questions Asked."

You know how a dad can give his kid a ride home late at night? Maybe the party got weird, or a ride from a friend didn’t happen, or things just didn't go as planned. A good Dad says, "Call me anytime, I'll come get you." God's got that same promise:

• Who has Deuteronomy 31:6? It says, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (God's always ready to bring you home.)

• Matthew 28:20 - "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (He's not just a text away—He's already there with you in every situation.)

What else do good dads say to their kids?

6. "Everybody Makes Mistakes. Don't Worry About It?"

We all make mistakes. We all have done something completely opposite of what we were told to do. Even right after we’re told not to do that. Dads forgive. And God's got the same forgiving spirit:

• Who has 1 John 1:9? It says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (Since we have "God in Christ in us" through the holy spirit, when we mess up, we can talk directly to God about it. He's faithful and just to forgive and cleanse. The "cleansing from all unrighteousness" is like that internal spiritual renewal - God's spirit working in us to restore and purify, from the inside out. No complicated religious rituals are needed. Just an honest conversation with God, who already dwells within you through His spirit. That's the beautiful simplicity of having God in Christ in you. Get it?

• Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (God does not hold a grudge. Did a mistake? You’re righteous. You’re forgiven. Move on.)

Two more things good dads say…

7. "Oh, Good Job, Kid!"

You know when a child does something really good, and dad is so proud? God's got that same proud papa thing going on:

• Who has Romans 8:16-17? It says, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (We're not just kids—we're heirs to the family business!)

• 2 Corinthians 6:18 says, "And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (God claims us as His own children in His own family. Wow!)

Last but not least…

8. "Just Listen to Me—Trust Me on This One"

Sometimes a dad can get that serious look and say, "Look, I need you to listen. You may think I’m too old to fully understand what's going on here. But trust me. Just do what I'm telling you, and it'll all work out." God does the exact same thing:

• Who has Proverbs 3:5-6? It says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (God's saying, "I can see the whole picture—trust me!")

• Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways." (God knows stuff we don't—that's why we should just listen.)

The Ultimate Instruction Manual

God knew we would need clear instructions for life, so He gave us His Word.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the child of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

God is saying, "Here's the manual. Read it. Do it.”

When We Don't Listen to Dad

Sometimes we simply choose not to read the Word or follow God’s commandments. Think about baking a cake. The recipe calls for specific measurements, exact temperatures, and precise timing. But maybe we think we know better. We add a little extra of this, skip that step, or change the temperature because we're in a hurry. The result? A cake that doesn't rise, or burns on the outside while staying raw in the middle. The recipe was perfect—we just didn't follow it.

This is exactly what happens when we don't know or follow the Word. In Romans 1:21-22, it says, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." Paul is describing people who knew the right way, but they chose their own path instead, thinking that they could do it on their own.

The good news is that God doesn't give up on us when we mess up. Just like an earthly father continues to love and guide his children through their mistakes, God remains faithful to us. His love doesn't depend on us being perfect, but instead depends on us learning, listening, and doing His Word.

Apply This Today

Alright, so what do we do with all this? Here's your Father's Day action plan. 3 steps:

1. Do What You’ve Learned. (James 1:22) Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Don't just nod your head and then do whatever you want. Learn what dad is trying to teach you.

2. Trust the Process. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Sometimes, a father knows best.

3. Be Thankful. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Dads love to hear, “Thanks.” And so does your Heavenly Father. They both need to hear it.

   
   

Closing

So, the best Father's Day gift isn't a new grill or another "dad joke" book (although those are fun too). It's letting your father know you actually heard what he had to say, and you're trying your best to do it.

The same goes for God. He's not looking for perfect kids—He's looking for people who listen, who try, who get back up when they fall, and, who know, that they’re never alone.

Let's be thankful for our Heavenly Father on this Father’s Day. For always loving us, being there for us in every situation, telling us what to look for and what to do, and celebrating when we do good. We sure are thankful. 

Happy Father's Day. 

Amen? Amen.