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Key Bible Verse: Your throne is founded on two strong pillars—righteousness and justice. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants (Psalm 89:14). Bonus Reading: Romans 2:5b-11

A father demonstrates the ultimate authority of God by establishing himself as supreme, benevolent ruler in his home. In order to signify authority and command respect, a father must be impartial and just, and a father must be obedient to his own authority, God.

If a father is unjust, he destroys his child's faith in him. If he punishes a child without knowing her guilt for certain, he risks injuring his authority in the child's eyes for perhaps the rest of her life. In a similar way, when a child goes unpunished while knowing her guilt, that child can lose respect for her father's authority, especially if she knows her father is also aware of her guilt.

Not being omniscient, we can't judge perfectly, but we can strive for justice with a pure heart. Don't ignore the guilt you know exists, even if your choice of discipline is only verbal admonishment, and don't punish if you're unsure of guilt.

If a father is disobedient to God, he does more damage to his authority than injustice ever could. Why should a child obey her father, the guy who sets the rules, if her father can't even obey the rules himself? Your authority figure is God. Your children must see you submitting to your Master if you expect them to submit to you.

—Bryan Davis in The Image of a Father

My Response: How have I shown, or failed to show, God's supreme authority in my life?

Thought to Apply: A God all mercy is a God unjust.—EDWARD YOUNG (theologian)

Adapted from The Image of a Father (AMG Publishers, 2004) by permission.

Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Thank You, Lord, that You are not a distant deity, but a personal God who reaches out to relate to us as Your sons and daughters.

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