Week of Monday June 9 – June 15
Dedicated Dads – Man as Chaplain
“So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” - Malachi 2:4-7 ESV
A father’s role as the Chaplain, or spiritual leader of his family, is a high calling. As we wrote in our book Strong and Courageous:
Men, our spiritual leadership matters greatly. The numbers clearly demonstrate this fact. Consequently, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” is a powerful promise to do the best we can to influence our children toward serving the God we serve. It is also a prayer that the children raised in our home and in the church follow in our footsteps in the faith. Men, that is our role as chaplains. Lead by calling them to commitment while modeling it for them in a winsome way.[1]
The prophet Malachi had some hard words for those tasked with spiritual leadership in his day: the priests, who were members of the tribe of Levi. He warned that their failure to honor God would bring serious consequences for their offspring. Their failure to walk with God, guard knowledge, and impart godly instruction brought harm upon their households and those they were called to influence. The priests of Malachi’s day fell embarrassingly short of God’s standard for their important calling.
Consequently, through the prophet Malachi, God urged these spiritual leaders to return to the godly heritage modeled by Levi. What a great example for us as dedicated dads! Note some of the qualities that commended Levi:
- God established a covenant of “life and peace” with Levi. Spiritual leaders are called to foster harmony, not division or strife. In our case, this means promoting reconciliation and healing in the home.
- God inspired awe and reverence in Levi. Just as Levi feared and honored God, spiritual leaders must maintain a deep respect and awe for God. This reverence for God ought to encourage integrity and humility in the home.
- God fed Levi truth, as seen in the phrase, “True instruction was in his mouth.” Spiritual leaders must teach God’s Word clearly and faithfully, without distortion or compromise. To do this effectively, we first need to have God’s truth in our own hearts (Deut. 6:6).
- God enjoyed walking with Levi in “peace and uprightness.” Spiritual leadership involves not just teaching but also modeling and living by those teachings. Walking in uprightness means living a life that reflects God’s character. The best evidence that we are doing this successfully is when our godly example inspires others to turn away from sin.
As the Chaplains of our homes, we have a sacred calling from God. Honoring the covenant God made with us is perhaps more important today than at any other time in history. Men, as we mark another Father’s Day, let’s be inspired to be the Levis in our homes and, with God’s help, become more dedicated dads!
- How would you rate yourself as the Chaplain of your home? Are you effectively bringing God’s truth and instruction to your family?
- Are your children and grandchildren guided and inspired by your example of awe and reverence for God, and do they see you as a role model who promotes kindness and harmony at home?
- Pray for God to help you become a more dedicated dad/granddad. If you have never taken advantage of the resources offered by Stand Courageous, check out this link this Father’s Day weekend.
[1] William G. Boykin and Dr. Kenyn M. Cureton, Strong and Courageous: A Call to Biblical Manhood, (Fidelis Publishing 2021), 204
Dedicated Dads – Man as Chaplain
“So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” - Malachi 2:4-7 ESV
A father’s role as the Chaplain, or spiritual leader of his family, is a high calling. As we wrote in our book Strong and Courageous:
Men, our spiritual leadership matters greatly. The numbers clearly demonstrate this fact. Consequently, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” is a powerful promise to do the best we can to influence our children toward serving the God we serve. It is also a prayer that the children raised in our home and in the church follow in our footsteps in the faith. Men, that is our role as chaplains. Lead by calling them to commitment while modeling it for them in a winsome way.[1]
The prophet Malachi had some hard words for those tasked with spiritual leadership in his day: the priests, who were members of the tribe of Levi. He warned that their failure to honor God would bring serious consequences for their offspring. Their failure to walk with God, guard knowledge, and impart godly instruction brought harm upon their households and those they were called to influence. The priests of Malachi’s day fell embarrassingly short of God’s standard for their important calling.
Consequently, through the prophet Malachi, God urged these spiritual leaders to return to the godly heritage modeled by Levi. What a great example for us as dedicated dads! Note some of the qualities that commended Levi:
- God established a covenant of “life and peace” with Levi. Spiritual leaders are called to foster harmony, not division or strife. In our case, this means promoting reconciliation and healing in the home.
- God inspired awe and reverence in Levi. Just as Levi feared and honored God, spiritual leaders must maintain a deep respect and awe for God. This reverence for God ought to encourage integrity and humility in the home.
- God fed Levi truth, as seen in the phrase, “True instruction was in his mouth.” Spiritual leaders must teach God’s Word clearly and faithfully, without distortion or compromise. To do this effectively, we first need to have God’s truth in our own hearts (Deut. 6:6).
- God enjoyed walking with Levi in “peace and uprightness.” Spiritual leadership involves not just teaching but also modeling and living by those teachings. Walking in uprightness means living a life that reflects God’s character. The best evidence that we are doing this successfully is when our godly example inspires others to turn away from sin.
As the Chaplains of our homes, we have a sacred calling from God. Honoring the covenant God made with us is perhaps more important today than at any other time in history. Men, as we mark another Father’s Day, let’s be inspired to be the Levis in our homes and, with God’s help, become more dedicated dads!
- How would you rate yourself as the Chaplain of your home? Are you effectively bringing God’s truth and instruction to your family?
- Are your children and grandchildren guided and inspired by your example of awe and reverence for God, and do they see you as a role model who promotes kindness and harmony at home?
- Pray for God to help you become a more dedicated dad/granddad. If you have never taken advantage of the resources offered by Stand Courageous, check out this link this Father’s Day weekend.
[1] William G. Boykin and Dr. Kenyn M. Cureton, Strong and Courageous: A Call to Biblical Manhood, (Fidelis Publishing 2021), 204