A dad who recently finished an 11-week BetterMan is using his words to bring life. On a road trip a few weeks back, he turned off the music in his car and asked his kids to put down their devices. He then used that time in the car to speak truth and words of life to his kids. He praised his kids, quoting Scripture and blessing them.

After he was done, everything went back to normal—the music turned up, and the Nintendo switches turned on. 

Not knowing the affect, a few weeks later, at the wheel again, family in tow, down the road a bit, his oldest son asked him to turn off the radio. The dad obliged and, looking in the rearview, his eyes filled with tears as his son said;

"Dad, do you think you could speak some more of those words to us?"

"More of those words..." We all need to speak more of those words. Those words are like golden apples in a silver setting (Pr. 25:11). 

Like a honeycomb, those words are sweet and bring health (16:24). 

There is grace, and love, and life, and health in those words (15:4; 18:21; Eph. 4:29). 

As a man, I must admit it is hard to find those words. If I am being honest, I need help figuring out where to start. Luckily, I know a Father who is never short on those words. 

God speaks those words to Jesus— a Father to His Son. At His Son's baptism, Scripture tells us;

"And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matt 3:16-17).  

And then, at the transfiguration, the disciples hear the Father say about Jesus, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him" (Matt. 17:5).

Through those words, we see how the Father blesses His Son in three specific ways:

Acceptance: The Father wanted listeners to know that Jesus was His Son. At this point (His baptism), Jesus had done nothing of importance—nothing that would have brought Him great honor. Jesus wasn't an honor roll kid; He wasn't popular or successful, nor was He a leading scorer. But that didn't matter to God. God loved Jesus, first and foremost, because Jesus was His Son. 

Fathers show their acceptance by addressing their children according to who God made them to be, not who they desire them to be.

Adoration: God was eager to tell the world that He adored Jesus. As a beloved Son, Jesus knew His Father was crazy about Him and didn't care who knew it. At His command, the heavens would open, and God would declare, "I love this kid..." 

Fathers should express a shameless love, the type of love that treasures their children and delights in them.

Approval - Not only did God tell people that He accepted and adored His Son, He also wanted all to know that He approved of and believed in Him. He told the disciples to take note and listen to what His Son had to say. 

When a father tells a child that he is good at something and everyone should know and benefit from it, few compliments in this life can ever surpass that.

Make words of acceptance, adoration, and approval a common theme this holiday season. When looking for those words to share with your family, let them be dripping with a father's love.

There's a new menu in my house this Christmas... I'm serving up golden apples on sliver dishes, every chance I get.

Speaking those words,

- Harp