As fathers

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. – 1 Thessalonians 2.11-12

I love these thoughts about how God’s people are to be as gentle as a nursing mother and and instructive as a father. There are such beautiful images of how we get the gospel out.

While they comforted the people like a nursing mother they exhorted and comforted and instructed like a father.

Generally mothers and fathers parent differently. God designed it that way. At times both parents exercise all of these traits, but generally Mom is the one kids go to for comfort and dad is where you go when you have a problem.

Here all the words used are very positive images of fathering. Exhort, comfort, and instruct.

Fathering our children is tough work. Spiritual fathering takes work as well. It’s not only pastors who have this responsibility. As we grow in our faith we are the ones who need to be examples to the younger men, to come alongside to encourage and instruct, and yes, sometimes correct the younger men.

If those of us who are already Christians do not come along to help new believers who is going to help?