A Father and a Leader

Family depiction by a child

The changes men experience on becoming a father are not seen outside.  For many, it is a thrilling moment of joy and excitement.  The happiness along with it brought responsibility, which some denied vehemently.   Had it been thoroughly thought-through in minute details, it really is a new challenge to life.  To bring up someone in a world that one had already experienced, seems like impossible task.  However, amongst all the things in life, it was the greatest blessing one can achieved in a life time.

As much as the fervor of becoming a parent, there goes a huge obligation side-by-side.  I have known some fathers practically straying away from the responsibilities of being a father.  In contemporary world, there are Runaway Fathers as much as Runaway Mothers.  They must have their own reason for doing it.  However, when God invented family it never was intended to be that way.   Some biological parents are simply described as “sperm and egg banks” by their children, pertinent to some cases.

Apart from that, I am also blessed with a good father.  Dad used all his wisdom, some of them being innate, to raise us.  He stressed on living a life acceptable in the eyes of the Lord.  Although we could not achieve it in its entirety.  The importance of having our soul being saved was reiterated.  He guided us through the tumultuous period of adolescence, which helps me very much in particular.   In the midst of poverty, Daddy always gave us the best he could.  For that he would even bowed to wealthy persons for loans or for help.  Personally, I appreciate him because the courage to do that, it takes a lot.

Now I want to draw your attention to Joshua; who led the Israelites into the Promised Land, Canaan.  He was also a father.  During their journey, they have witnessed before them the wonders God had done for them.  Despite the insurmountable obstacles in their way he trusted in the Lord.  They started settling in the land of the Canaanites, when he warned the Israelites with his huge declaration:

“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”*

They must have felt accomplished.  They are in the Promised Land.  It is time for celebration to embark on a new life in the new fertile land.  It is a Success Test for them. In this time of great importance, Joshua made this significant warning or declaration.

We are all immigrants or migrants in some way.  Some immigrate for better living while some migrated from smaller town to big cities.  While all of us did not taste success in the process very often, most of us have had success.  In this time we must look back and reaffirm our standpoint as Joshua did among the Israelites.  Are we among those usurped in the liberty we enjoyed in the place we live?

One more thing certain here is Joshua must have good command over his house.  He spoke for his households.  It shows the integrity of his house.  We now live in a world full of distractions, which hampers our family relations.  It also shows that he performed his duty as a father diligently.  Had all the households been like his, it would not be necessary to make that declaration amongst the tribes, but it is not.

Serving the Lord, in its entirety can be performed in many ways.   It is just necessary that the entire member need to be in one heart to carry on with the task.  To successfully passed-on the faith from generation to generation itself is a huge achievement.  Should the anchor of the family be the Almighty there’s not a thing to be added.

We are often enticed to go slow or even completely gave up in building or rebuilding the house.  More importantly, many gave up before they even started.  Everything starts from the house.  The failure of the society, the state as whole reflected the core of the family in our country.  Joshua is true leader, who led the Israelites as well as his house.   Let us also choose whom we want to serve in this short span of life.  What heritage we want to leave for our next generation?

Let’s  spread love, true love, followed by action.  I felt thankful to the fathers who are already leading the right way.  I also pray for all of us, the fathers, that we be given strength to perform our duties rightfully and happily.

*Joshua 24:15d (NKJV)

Abiding Grace: Small Stuff Big Stuff

 

In life, some make it big some make it small.  Achievements are what we are talking about.  Unlike any other thing, it depends on who measure it and how it is measured.  Some are born to perform big things while some performed small but very important things in life.

At least before you do something worthy, your life here on earth will not end.  God has purpose in your life.  That purpose, not everyone knew in their lifetime.  Still they have done their part.  Some knew it but deny it.  However, they came back to the One in time, before it’s too late.  You are surely to have contribution at least for people around you.  How you contribute will differ.

Moses with his staff as command by God

There are times when we felt we aren’t contributing.  We are supposed to be leading but it’s just impossible to achieve that Herculean task.  You hit a dead wall on your road.  You have no strength to overcome that particular obstacle.  Let me draw one instance in Moses’ life;

Moses denies his calling but he humbled and gave in to be part of God’s mission in bringing out the Israelites from Egypt.  With God by his side, the Israelites were delivered to begin their journey towards Canaan, the Promised Land.  But then, the Red Sea stands in their way.  What Moses did here was worth mentioning; he cried out to the Lord, and he obeyed His command to hold out his stick towards the sea. (read Exodus 14)

That’s not huge at all.  He needed to hold out his stick.  Moses did the small stuff; God did the big stuff.  Moses took time to talk with God in the midst of tumultuous groaning of the Israelites.  He had conversation with God, he seeks words from Him.  That gave him way forward.  The Red Sea was divided.  The children of Israelites walked on dry land in the midst of the sea.

When life’s tempest tossed, talk to Him; seek words from Him.  We needed to do something on our part as we see here in what Moses did.  Try to do something with what is in your hand however little they might be.  To reveal the faith within us, God wanted us to do the little thing.

Joshua was given seven days to perform the small stuff, that’s what he can do best in his might.  On the seventh day, God did the big stuff for His people.  The Wall of Jericho collapsed and they conquered the city. (read Joshua 6)

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…., God will do the big stuff.

Take your time and talk to God.  It is the contribution that matters whether big or small.  You don’t have to script your big time life story.  Perform the small stuff, with great faith.

*stuff: things, activities.  Little things Big things