I Chronicles 12:32 “And of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, and knew what they should do.”   Last Sunday was Father’s Day and my family celebrated fathers like most families.  But, so many families and children today lack the active spiritual leadership of fathers so critical in the lives of their children.  Fathers must understand the times in which they live and the threats to Christian values that our culture poses.  These anti-Christian threats are real and growing more aggressive every day.  It is much easier to know what we should do if we understand what we are facing.  That describes David’s mighty men of Issachar as detailed in our Scripture. But, there is much more than just knowing what we should do.  We must take action to actually do what we know we should do.  Fathers must be active, not passive leaders and the spiritual survival of their children may well depend on it.

Fathers can be their children’s best friends, but they must first be their father and parent whose spiritual walk and leadership places them in a position of authority and discipleship just as God our Father is to us.  Our relationship to our Father in Heaven through Jesus Christ is the example for a man to set and follow.  The decisions and leadership of David’s mighty men found in I Chronicles saved Israel and God’s people.  What an encouragement for us to follow and for us to live out.  Fathers must be leaders and are accountable to God for how they lead.  Simply put, do what you know you should do.  This is spiritual leadership and obedience that honors God and transfers Christian lives.