The Mantle Of Parenthood

July 13

"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free'." John 8:31

God wants men to be free.

God wants men to be free to demonstrate toughness when a situation or relationship demands it. Free to display grit, strength, commitment, and decisiveness under the Holy Spirit's direction. God also wants me to be free to demonstrate tenderness, sensitivity and humility. Free to be vulnerable enough to foster intimacy and to shed tears.

Authentic masculinity produces a divine elasticity in men. Finally they can lead with firmness, then submit with humility. They can challenge with a cutting edge, then encourage with enthusiasm. They can fight aggressively for a just cause, then moments later weep over suffering.

Secure, free, authentic men leave a mark -- on their colleagues, friends, wives, and especially their children.-- Bill Hybels


Each of us shall leave a mark—for good or for ill—upon the lives that touch ours. Someone once said, “An organization takes on the character of its leader,” and that is proven out time and again. It is especially true within families and can be seen by the work ethic, the loyalty, the faith that are passed from generation to generation.

Because this truth is at play within the dynamics of each home and family, it behooves the parents to resolve that they shall be the best of role models to their children. “As a mother is before her daughter, so shall her daughter be,” Ezekiel 16:44, is an inescapable reality.

Ephesians 6:4 requires much the same of fathers. Here Paul writes, “Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and wisdom and admonition of the Lord.” We delude ourselves if we think we can do our own thing and the children will not be impacted by the consequences of our choices and actions.

Therefore, may we take on the mantle of parenthood with determination that we will use it to cover our children in the plan of salvation. May we wear the robe of righteousness that He supplies to every believer with the prayer that His goodness will be seen by everyone in our lives—and that in seeing they may be drawn to the One who places His Robe of Life upon us (see John 17:3).