The Bible has so much to say about every area of our lives and you don’t have to go very far in the scriptures till you find parental issues being addressed.
Gen 18:19 “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, …”
GOD knew Abraham. Now that is a powerful thought. GOD knew him. GOD knew his every thought. He knew what really mattered to Abraham. He knew what made him tick. He knew who Abraham really was down deep inside. He knew what was really important to him. And because of this He knew Abraham was the leader in his house.
GOD knew Abraham. GOD knows me. GOD knows each of us better than we know ourselves. What a statement is made about Abraham. GOD knew that he would command his household. What about me? Does GOD know this about me?
GOD expects men to be men.
NKJ 1 Sam 4:9 Be strong and conduct yourselves like men…
KJV 1 Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. The phrase “quit you like men” simply means to behave like men.
Fathers, don’t let your family down. Don’t let GOD down. Conduct yourselves like men by leading your family. And the most important area is by commanding your household spiritually. Is it very sad to observe that in most families the spiritual leader is the mother. If you don’t think this is true, sit at the door and watch the number of unaccompanied spouses who come to church services. There will be many more females than males. Maybe I am wrong, because I am not in all these homes, but I am afraid too many fathers leave this crucial area of development to the mothers.
Let us make a second observation about our text in Genesis 17:18. Note that this is the 1st recorded prayer in scripture, and it is a father praying for his children! Now to emphasize the previous point, fathers, when was the last time you prayed for and with your children? The point is this, parents, mothers and fathers, must pray for their children.
The Bible has much to say about parenting, through all the stages of development!
Note the following passage dealing with the prenatal stage. In Judges 13: 8, Manoah (the father! of Samson) is praying to GOD about his unborn child. He prays “…and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.”
Later in v. 12 he prays “How shall we order the child (or what shall be his work) and how shall we do unto him?”
In this passage there is even advice to expectant mothers. Verse 4, “…please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink.” This is another verse that modern medical science has only recently caught up to¸ noting that alcohol consumption during pregnancy is ill advised.
The Bible’s parenting instruction continues through to the adult child. For an excellent example see the Prodigal Son story in Luke 15.
2 Timothy 3:15,16 says “All Scripture is given by inspiration of GOD…that the man of GOD may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Parenting is certainly a good work and the Scripture gives us guidance and instructions. It is a manual from the Creator. It is a blueprint to follow.
Fathers, please take your responsibility seriously! Be a man! Be the spiritual leader in your home! Command your household!The souls of your children, your wife and your own, are at stake!