Greater is he…

( A dad’s desire for his son )

This encouragement from the beloved disciple comes after the warnings of false teachings and an admonishment to test all things in spiritual matters. He warns that anything (or anyone) that denies Jesus or operates in a way that doesn’t line up with His word is of the world, even the antichrist. But take heart! You are children of God, covered by the blood, and led by the power of the Holy Spirit who is in you. The Spirit in you is more powerful, gracious, and greater in every way than the spirit that operates in the world.

The antichrist spirit was prevalent then, and even if there is no person of the antichrist yet, I would say it is even more evident today. It has become increasingly more and more difficult to do or say anything – in schools, businesses, or any other secular arena – that supports Christian values. It is all but banned to even speak of Jesus in many places. Yet at the same time, it has become more and more prevalent to engage in things that not only dishonor God but diminish human worth under the guise of acceptance for all. But greater is He…

It is a heavy burden to bear knowing that the situation in the world around us can become increasingly more debased as time goes on, and I have the responsibility to raise two boys into men with Godly character. Trying to make sense of the onslaught of conflicting news stories feels like a fool’s errand, and yet a good father wants to protect his family by staying aware and planning appropriately. The world they will come of age in will be drastically different than the “playing in the street with all the neighbor kids, and leaving your doors unlocked” world I grew up in. But greater is He…

The assurance I have is that the Spirit that leads me is greater than anything this world can muster. My goal is to raise my boys to be just a little better than me and leave it to God to do the rest. Teach them from my mistakes. Share my wins and failures. Continue to learn and grow myself so I can teach them and help them grow even stronger. If I can give them all the good that has been cultivated in me (which is an ever-working process), and all the sincerity, honesty, and grace of my wife, and someday by their choice pair that with all the power of the Holy Spirit working through them, then we can know that we’ve done our best to raise them to be at least a little better. And the Lord will make all the difference, because greater is He…

My only hope is in Jesus. The joy of the Lord is my strength. I make a commitment to be ever ready (1 Peter 3:15) and to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9) in my faith as an example for my boys. I make a commitment to honor my wife (1 Peter 3: 7) and not to provoke my children to anger (Ephesians 6:4) but nurture them in Spirit and Truth with discipline and instruction. I make a commitment to do my best to raise them to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). I make this commitment so that one day, when introducing my son to an old friend, that friend may share a story of a positive impact I had in their life and perhaps say something like “your dad is great guy.” And I can proudly nod my head pointing toward my son and say, “greater is he”… because greater is He.