Dads, do you have some small kids, some teens, or some students at home?
Parents, I challenge you to get off their back and appropriately get on their team.. but not with them as the leader of the team. Remember you’re the parent with great responsibility.. entrusted with delegated authority from God and they are the so called kid, child, offspring ..not yet having such.
We can't make em desire to do what's best and right, and can't always know what's best for them and others in every situation, but we can learn what's absolutely right and point em in that direction ..and sometimes in the direction that's best as well.
"A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.”
The payoff for meekness and fear-of-God is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.
The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick; if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.
Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost." Proverbs 22:3
Be real, think real, live real. Small eyes are watching you. Remember, it’s called “raising kids”.. not submerging em, torpedoing em, or putting em down. You know that.
“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” ~ Paul
Of course be kind, gentle, godly, decisive, friendly, uplifting, faith-FULL, lovingly firm at times and a good example for em. Depend on the Lord to help you. Prayerfully teach them through the whole Bible while you can. Ten to fifteen minutes per day ain’t gunna kill you or them. So many kids today don’t have their fathers around to teach them what’s right and wrong--they don’t even know who are in authority over them or what that even means for their future. Kids, guess what.. most of those who are parents, teachers, police are decent people and not evil abusers so submit to their authority short of sinning. Comply with the police giving you a legal directive ..and live.
“Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.” Colossians 3:21
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice ” Ephesians 4:29
Heads up father’s, here are ten more verses to encourage you...
- Genesis 18:19 – “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
- Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
- Deuteronomy 6:6-9 – “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates.”
- Joshua 24:15 – “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
- Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
- Psalms 127:3-5 – “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.”
- Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke,because the LORD disciplines those he loves,as a father the son he delights in.
- Proverbs 14:26 – “Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.”
- Proverbs 23:24 The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.
- Malachi 4:6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse. (niv)
