Father’s Day is here. For most dads, it is just another day in the great and rewarding journey of doing the best we can for our families.

Like Mother’s Day, we celebrate this day as an opportunity to honor the contributions dads, all over the world, play in the life of the family. Dad’s should be honored and encouraged every day for the role they play in this life, society, and the church. My grandmother used to say, “Anyone can have a child, but it takes a special man to be a father.” I agree wholeheartedly.

Being a dad is much more than performing a biological function. It is about love and care. It is about guiding and directing. It is about being the very best you can be, for Jesus and your family.

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” (Ephesians 5:22–24, ESV).

Scripture makes it abundantly clear that the dad is the head of the family. Just as important, he is to lead his family because of his love and devotion to Jesus and his family. A godly dad doesn’t lead and guide his family because of his own insecurities, selfishness or pride. He leads and guides because he loves them.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:1–4, ESV).

Dad offers wise counsel so that he may lead his family to paths of righteousness. He is slow to anger, always thinking about what is best for his family, not what is best for him. Just as God spoke of Abraham, godly dads should lead their family in such a way that they want to willingly follow him toward the Lord (Gen. 18:19).

A godly dad is strong, reliable, and confident. He is tender, loving, and understanding (Matt. 7:12). As long as he is able, he is willing to labor hard to provide shelter for his family and food for their table (2 Thess. 3:10).

Most importantly, a godly dad will sacrifice his most precious possession for his family. He will spend time with his family. Dads recognize that spending time with his family is just as important, if not more, than working to provide for them. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it but this is not possible if dad is never around. Good dads are not judged by how much money he earns, how big the house, or the gifts he can give. Good and godly dads are seen in the love and time they spend with their family.

Let’s make sure that we love, honor, and respect the man we call dad. He has given so much to us. Happy Father’s Day.