When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love…” (Genesis 22:2). A father’s love for his son. That’s the first time we see the word “love” used in the Bible. My wife pointed this out to me recently during one of her Bible studies. (Quick aside: what a blessing to have a wife who’s constantly diving into scripture! Can I get an amen?!) As we consider our roles as fathers, there are two glaring lessons for us. First, we must love our sons and daughters! I know – so obvious. Second, and slightly less obvious, we must love them so much that we realize they are not ours, but they are God’s. We are stewards of their precious lives, not owners. We say, “our” kids, and there’s truth in that. But, more so, they are God’s kids, and we get to shepherd, guide, and disciple them. We don’t own them. He does. And, just as Abraham’s love for Isaac was deep, it wasn’t deeper than his devotion to God. He was willing to sacrifice Isaac if that was God’s will. Let’s love our kids so deeply that we gently place their lives in the Father’s hands. Because guess what? Their lives are already in His hands, and we’re just acknowledging that reality.

Should kids have phones? Pros and cons: To phone or not to phone, that is the question. Despite the pros and cons of having a phone, your determining factor to this question is your kid. What’s your trust level in your kids? How mature are they? Do they need a phone? Answer these questions honestly, and you’ll probably have the answer you are looking for when it comes to them having a phone or not.

The fatherhood traps of tradition and replication: As dads, we are the steward of our children, but it’s God who owns them at the end of the day. We must serve our kids and give them every chance to know God and love Him; after that, it’s up to them. We just have to let God direct their adult life and not connect our success as fathers to “their success.” Whatever they get into, whether music, cars, or something we know nothing about, all we gotta do is be there when they need us the most. The rest can be left up to the Lord.

“He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.” – James Allen

“If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.” – John Ortberg

“Love is not a feeling of happiness. Love is a willingness to sacrifice.” – Michael Novak

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” – Romans 8:32

Let go to love. Maybe you have older children, and one way you need to love them this week is to let go of some decision they’re making. They might be making choices you find, um, “interesting” (but, not necessarily dangerous or sinful), but you need to allow them the freedom to make those choices. Or, your child is struggling with something that you simply cannot fix by yourself. You need God’s intervention. You know God loves them even more than you do, but it’s hard to let go. Yet, sometimes, doing just that is the most loving thing we can do.

Kent Evans
Author of The Manhood Journey, co-founder of Manhood Journey and Father On Purpose.

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.