Do we want good children or godly children? We want godly children who know the principles of good living but also who know God Himself. We desire for our children to have a love and passion for God that overflows in a love for mankind. Without Jesus Christ our ability to forgive, have compassion and to love is greatly limited. In Christ we have the ability to have Christ live His life in us. God can do great and mighty things through families that live by His great and glorious promises and purposes. Reflect on the following 7 principles for raising children from Deuteronomy 6.
Principle #1: Establish and live by God’s standards (Deut. 6:1)
Reflection: Do your standards come from God’s standards? How well have you learnt and lived by His commands?
Principle #2: Pass it on to next generations (Deut. 6:2)
Reflection: Are you excited about what God is doing in your life? If so, have you shared it with your children? If not, do you really expect your children’s zeal will be above yours?
Principle #3: Convinced of the need for God’s blessing (Deut. 6:3)
Reflection: Do you believe that you and your family’s welfare are dependent upon keeping God’s Word? Is it your goal to ‘run’ after His commands so that you will have a passionate love for God that would be worthy to transfer to the next generation?
Principle #4: Undivided loyalty to Yahweh (LORD) (Deut. 6:4-5)
Reflection: Is God your life priority so that every area of your life revolves around Him? If things got real bad like Job, would you give up God? Are you committed to serving the LORD Yahweh as a family?
Principle #5: Devoted to His Word (Deut. 6:6)
Reflection: How many times do you as the father and mother meditate on God’s Word through the week? When you do spend time in His Word, is it because you desire His Word or because you are obligated to do so?
Principle #6: Committed to teaching his sons (Deut. 6:7)
Reflection: What formal teaching of God’s Word do you bring to your family as the father? How much time? Where? To whom? In the case of informal teaching, do you spend time communicating with your children in the home about the things of God, or is the television/internet more important?
Principle #7: Display God’s Word (Deut. 6:8-9)
Reflection: What do you decorate your walls with? Would anyone know that you have a great love for God from walking in or around your home?
Dads need to rethink their calling from God. They are not just husbands; they are fathers. They need to lead and teach. It is from such verses as Deuteronomy 6 we understand the true importance of the family to a great society. When the family disintegrates, the society dies. When the family is strong and fathers take the lead, the society does well. Will we fathers begin to take our role seriously or let our children be drugged by modern teachings and be caught by the pull of the secular world culture?
(PAUL & LINDA BUCKNELL)