Do you ever read job descriptions just for fun? “Must be punctual, organized, proficient at MS Office, have attention to detail, flexible, ability to work within deadlines. Must be a Self-starter, positive attitude, successful sales background, works with a variety of personalities, competitive, with experience in social media marketing.” Given my tendencies toward disorganization and inability to understand how Facebook and Twitter function, I’d be an easy resume for the garbage for an HR person filling the above two positions.

Have you ever thought of what it takes to be a good dad? At one level, it’s an “Entry Level Position,” meaning you can get the job without being qualified. At another level, it’s a little like a Public Relationship Position, as we balance our expectations with our culture’s expectations; being a “good dad” is an ever-changing target, if media is any indication. Remember the strong, faithful, full-of-integrity TV dads of the 70s and 80s (Mr. Cunningham or John Walton)? They have now been replaced by the cowardly, unreliable, and downright immoral TV dads of today (Simpsons or Modern Family).

But rather than a popular form of Fatherhood rule the day, we’re more likely to succeed if we understand the Management Position our heavenly father has shown for us in the person of Jesus Christ: Strength, Leadership, Encouragement, Provision, Faithfulness, yet Jealous of competing love relationships, When I look past culture and into the face of Jesus, I see the gifts that I can give my children as a father walking in faith.

Fathers are our first impression of God’s character, and Jesus gives us a picture into that all-encompassing skill set: 1) Prioritize a Love Relationship, first with your Heavenly Father and then with your wife in the presence of your kids; 2) Watch How God Fathers You, He is strong and just but also tender and forgiving, and 3) Purposefully Share Your Relationship with Others, when we share, people see the Glory that is within us and God gets the glory.

Fathering cannot be left to accident, and it can’t be done by our own strength. We can’t force our kids to believe, but we have to train them. We can show love, mercy, justice, and stregth — it is our job description, as fathers. Both church and school play a part, but fathers play the critical, eternal role of passing on a legacy of following Christ to the next generation. The job description is a tough one, but the payoff is priceless.