“In the Bible, the blessing was everything.”
Dr. Tony Evans discusses this blessing in Show Me the Father, the powerful Kendrick Brothers movie released in 2021.
We hear a lot about “blessings” in society today, but have you thought much about THE Blessing? Dr. Evans goes on to explain, “That blessing was the covenantal transfer of the favor of God for the future of the child.”
And guess whose job it is to pass on that blessing to the next generation. That’s right – it’s you, Dad.
There’s a valuable resource at ShowMeTheFatherMovie.com that you can utilize when it comes to understanding what the blessing is and how you can bless your children – and maybe even someone else who isn’t expecting it.
5 Elements of The Blessing in Scripture
Five elements are shown throughout scripture in the context of a father’s blessing.
- Appropriate, meaningful touch
- Spoken or written word that…
- Attached high value to what they saw inside of you
- Picturing for you a special future
- All given with genuine commitment.
Did you receive these things from your dad or another father figure in your life? Or did these crucial needs go unfilled?
Many men missed out. They grew up in fatherless homes or with dads who could not, or would not, bless them. They grew up feeling like orphans.
But we know that in Christ, there are no orphans. No matter your upbringing, you now have a heavenly Father. He has given us a spirit of adoption as sons through Jesus Christ.
And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
Giving the Blessing
It starts at home. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is old home movie footage of Larry Kendrick, father to the Kendrick brothers, blessing his son during his wedding ceremony. Larry fulfilled what Dr. Evans explains: “Every father is responsible for passing on the blessing.” The blessing he spoke over his son is long, intentional, powerful, and life-giving to every man who hears it!
Yes, even as grown men, we still need the blessing. It blesses me for another man I respect to notice and encourage me. And, it goes both ways. I had the opportunity not long ago to tell another man how I recognized the servant’s heart in him, and I could see it was meaningful to him in that same way. You’re never too old to receive the blessing of someone noticing, commenting, and encouraging you.
So, fathers, your day is coming up on June 19th. This year, you can turn the tables on Father’s Day. While you’ll be receiving gifts from your family, could you give a gift of a blessing to members of your family, or even another dad? You can have the reward of investing in another man, and you don’t even have to be old enough to be his father.
3 Ideas to Implement for Father’s Day
- Watch or rewatch Show Me the Father. Did you have the blessing from your father, or did you miss out?
- Go through the Show Me the Father Discussion Guide – A Father’s Blessing. Think about how you felt, what you enjoyed, or what you missed out on.
- Find a way to transfer that blessing to your children, but also think about how you could bless someone else who is not expecting it.
While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
Luke 24:51
In his last moments on earth, Jesus was giving a blessing to his disciples as He ascended into Heaven. It was his final act. You can fill a need for someone who needs to hear a blessing from another man. Just as God chose you, choose someone today.
Resources:
Show Me The Father | Resources
The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance – book John Trent, Gary Smalley, & Kari Trent Stageberg