I’m about halfway through writing a series about here on Dadvotionals—a journey I expect will span 8 or 9 posts when all is said and done. I am not 100% sure where its leading me – but I am just going with it. If you’ve missed it here they are:
Blessing is Attached to Diligence
But I felt compelled to hit pause and insert a special word for Father’s Day. This day means a lot to us here. It’s more than a card, a tie, or a backyard grill session. It’s a holy reminder of the weight and wonder of fatherhood.
I think about my sons today—about how fiercely I love them and how deeply I desire to be the kind of man they can look up to. I want to show them what it means to love sacrificially, laugh wholeheartedly, and work diligently. Those were lessons my dad taught me well before he went home to be with the Lord.
He didn’t need a platform or a pulpit. He taught with his life. My dad would admit that he was far from perfect, but he taught me so much, by his actions and his words. In his last few days, we had some wonderful and life changing conversations. And today, I know he’s looking down, proud of the man I’ve become and the men I am raising.
I also think of my father-in-law. A man who has walked through his own valleys and come out standing. His love is quiet but steadfast. His story is one of grace and redemption—reminding me that the best fathers are not the perfect ones, but the ones who let Christ perfect them over time. I’m grateful for the example he sets in humility, forgiveness, and renewed strength. He has taught me to do the next right thing, one step at a time, with love and compassion.
As fathers, we carry a high calling. The Bible reminds us:
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” – Psalm 103:13
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13–14
That last one gets me. Be strong… but let everything be done in love. This world teaches us that strength is dominance, independence, even emotional distance. But the Gospel redefines fatherhood: it’s about love, presence, and godly conviction. This verse reminds me to forget what the world says about being a man, do it God’s way.
So today, I want to encourage every father, every grandfather, every spiritual dad reading this:
Stand strong in love. Be the man who doesn’t conform to the ways of this world. Be the man your children know will pray for them, fight for them, and lead them in truth. Be the father your Heavenly Father is calling you to be.
We don’t always get it right—but praise God, He’s still working on us. And that’s something to celebrate this Father’s Day.
Happy Father’s Day, men. Keep standing. Keep loving. Keep leading. In other words, keep acting like men.
Dadvotionals 