BIBLICAL FATHERHOOD--THE GREAT NEED OF THE WORLD 7z-22) HE HAS A GENERATION MINDSET-- ROLE MODELING LOVE THAT "HOPES ALL THINGS" (1 Corinthians 13:7) continued.

The love that we role model to our families is not a hopeless love. The words "all things" are vast in their scope. They are as vast as Matthew 11:24, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

The phrase "all things " is incredible and could include vast multitudes of personal desires, as well as impersonal. However, we cannot expect God to answer any prayer that is outside of His character and will for our lives. We are only entitled to hope for "all things" that are within the boundaries of His will.

For example it would be a false hope to fall in love with an unbeliever and expect God to answer our prayers to meet our needs in this matter. If we go into a joint business with an unbeliever and expect God to bless us, we may well be very disappointed. God may want to bless you, but may not want to bless the unbeliever, and you may end up losing all.

To get to the point, we fathers are to role model a love, that despite all hardships, persecutions, nay-sayers, and negative circumstances, always keeps on believing God, never quits praying, and always keeps hoping for the best.

Men, do your children observe you as a hopeful father, always optimistically hoping that one day all godly desires and prayers will be answered?

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell