More than just being in the best position to help their wives pursue God and fulfill their callings, fathers are also in the best position to raise their children and help them fulfill their God-given call. However, it takes more than just providing them a home to live in, food to eat, and clothes to wear.

It takes a father's affirmation to help children reach their full potential in the Lord.

A father does not leave children as orphans

Children always look for a father to look up to, a father who will protect them and build them up. Children always long for a father who will hold their hand and make them feel secure in their love. That's what children always long for, but because many fathers don't give them the affirmation they need, many children grow up "orphans."

While an orphan is literally a child without a parent, we can also be "orphans" while our parents live with us in our homes. A distant, emotionally separated, or absentee dad makes for an orphaned child.

Fathers, I encourage you, don't be distant or detached from your child. They are looking for your love and affection, your firm yet loving discipline, and your encouragement.

The Father's love

Men, I know that many of us had dysfunctional relationships with our fathers. Because of this, many of us have no earthly role model from whom we can learn what it is to be a good father to our kids. But we do have a role model. If we are in Christ, we have God as our Father.

The Father's love is ever encouraging and life-giving. Despite sending His only begotten Son to earth, He never left Him. They would commune daily, and He would show and tell Jesus what He wants done (see John 5:19, 14:10)

The Father also publicly affirmed Jesus. We read in Matthew 3:17 how God affirmed Him in the sight of all people when He said,

"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

We also read in Matthew 17:5 how God affirmed Jesus in the presence of His disciples, saying,

"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

God's affirmation is for our strength

Friends, the affirmation that fathers give to their children empower them to live their lives in pursuit of God's plans for them. God Himself continually encouraged Jesus because the Lord needed to go through the most painful thing to fulfill God's will.

In fact, the only time Jesus ever felt like God abandoned Him (see Matthew 27:46) was when He carried our sins on the cross (see 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:4). That was the time when God poured out His full wrath on our sins, and Christ had to suffer it for us.

But before He suffered, the Father already built Him up. Christ was already walking in the power of the Holy Spirit (see Luke 4:14) and the affirmation of the Father.

Friends, do not neglect your children. Encourage them to pursue the Lord (see Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4). Build them up in love and righteousness. Be their safe refuge just like our heavenly Father is to us.