Proverbs 20:7
“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”
As we celebrate Father’s Day today, it is good to be reminded of what the Lord has to say about those who are in positions of leadership in our families, and to honor these fathers and grandfathers. Jesus was asked by one of His disciples about who would be the one to lead their group. Jesus answered, and I am paraphrasing here, “The one who serves you best shall be your leader.” Putting two keywords together we get, “servant leader.”
What does it mean to be a servant leader? In their book, Lead Like Jesus, authors Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges share this, “The fruit of great servant leadership is realized when a leader seeks to send the next generation of leaders to meet the challenges of their season with all the wisdom, knowledge and spiritual resources he (or she) can provide.” It is my belief that this is what sets my husband apart as an example of a man who leads like Jesus—his devotion to God, his country, his devotion to the men and women put in his charge, and his devotion to family—his “servant leadership.”
As a father he faithfully passed down to our two daughters all the wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual resources he could provide so that they could meet the challenges, bear much fruit and, in turn, pass them to their own children. Through the years he has been sought out by others who seek to receive the benefit of his wisdom, his discernment of spiritual truth, his sense of humor, his ability to recognize a problem and ways to solve it. I believe the fruit of his servant leadership will live on in the lives of many who have been influenced, taught, mentored, discipled, served, and loved by him. Those in our family, in the Navy, in the secular workplace, in our various churches and neighborhoods have all been touched by this remarkable servant leader. May he continue to be used by God and bear much fruit in the years to come.
Wherever God has placed them to live out their lives, may this generation of fathers and grandfathers, be inspired to lead like Jesus as servant leaders in our churches, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces, for the sake of the next generation. Happy Father’s Day!
Our Father in heaven, thank you for giving Jesus as a model of servant leadership, which is much needed by men in today’s world. We pray that earthly fathers would seek to follow His example by gaining all wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual resources to equip them for the challenges ahead, not only in their own lives but for the sake of all those they lead, even to the generations to come. In the name of Jesus and for His sake we pray. Amen.
