THE SHEPHERDING FATHER TRAINS DISCIPLES (11r)

Every Christian father is called to raise his children to be disciples. On one occasion our Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, fed 5,000 men, plus women and children. On another occasion He fed 4,000 men, plus women and children. Both times were in wilderness areas where food was not easy to procure (Matthew 14:15-21 and 15:32-39).

On these occasions, after He had blessed and broken the bread, He gave it to His disciples and His disciples gave it to the multitudes. Men, as fathers raising families I believe this truth is important for us to see and understand. We are the disciples of Christ. We are to take the blessed and broken bread from the hands of Jesus and distribute it to our families. As we faithfully do this each day, they in turn will become disciples of Christ and minister this same broken bread to the great hungry multitudes of this world.

Men, you are not just raising children. With God's help, you are raising disciples. We cannot leave the work of raising our children to be the disciples of Christ to the church when the Scripture says "The father to the children shall make known thy truth" (Isaiah 38:19).

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell