Tonight I had the joy of sharing these thoughts with our church family. Perhaps they will be of some help to your family. My dad has been one of my greatest teachers. All fathers teach more than they realize, and more than their children realize until later in life.

As a boy I enjoyed asking preachers to sign the flyleaf of my Bible and share their favorite verse. Occasionally I look back through those signatures with fond memories of many who taught me God’s truth. One day it dawned on me that I had never asked my own dad to sign my Bible. He was reluctant to do so but, when he did, he signed it differently than all of the rest. It said:

Proverbs chapter 3, Your dad, Roger E. Pauley

I knew that wasn’t his life verse. He always signed his name with Galatians 2:20. Why would he put Proverbs 3 in my Bible? When I turned to it I soon discovered that it is a father’s proverb. Not only the words of an earthly father, but the wisdom of the Heavenly Father.

You can read the entire chapter for yourself, but listen to the father’s heart in the opening verses…

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:1-4

As I have walked through this chapter again and again I have realized that the greatest truths I ever learned from my father are summarized here.

  1. He taught me how to enjoy the journey (v. 1-4): build your life around the unchanging truth of God’s Word!
  2. He taught me to live by faith (v. 5-6).
  3. He taught me to keep my head straight and my heart clean (v. 7-8).
  4. He taught me that you can’t out give God (v. 9-10).
  5. He taught me that following the Lord is a way of life (v. 11-26).
  6. He taught me how to treat others (v. 27-31).
  7. He taught me that the blessing of the Lord is the greatest thing on earth (v. 32-35).

The most wonderful thing a father ever teaches his children is to know God. Thanks, dad, for teaching me. With my Heavenly Father’s help I hope to teach the same to my children.

Enjoying the Journey

Enjoying the Journey exists to evangelize the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ, encourage pastors and local churches, and equip believers to walk with God and serve Him each day. Through audio, video, and print resources we are seeking to preach the gospel, teach the Word of God, and reach this generation for Christ.

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