7-Jul-21
Every father has struggled with concerns about his role in raising his children since the fall. Yet in every generation, God has given His strength, power, and grace to devout parents to raise a righteous offspring. Below are six expectations from the Word of God that our Heavenly Father has for earthly fathers everywhere. To make these expectations easier to remember, we will use the letters of the word Father.
Six expectations God has for parents.
To Be Faithful
Be faithful and cling to your wife, the mother of your children (Genesis 2). Betrayal always has harmful consequences. If you want to raise a righteous generation, be loyal to your wife in the midst of an unfaithful world. (The wife also needs to remain faithful to her husband).
To be attentive
Be attentive to your children” (Ephesians 6:4). As Josh McDowell says, provoking means “rules without relationship.” If children don’t know you care, they won’t care about your rules. Every child is different and unique. God loves us personally, and parents need to love their children individually as well. God wants us to be good stewards (not owners) of the children He has given us, raising them in the care and guidance of the Lord. The only way to do that is to be attentive to them. (Read about Eli the priest in the Old Testament… he did not correct his sons, and see what happened.)
To Teach God’s Truth
Even if you don’t have any formal education, you can still teach divine truth (Deuteronomy 6). The dynamic here is to teach them continuously. Say to your children: I want you to truly love the Lord your God “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Sometimes, we allow divisions in our relationships over things that aren’t worthwhile or important. We don’t just need to teach them; we need to teach them divine truth.
To have Heart Set on Spiritual Truth
Parents, pass the baton to the next generation. Do this by allowing your children to witness your spiritual growth as you live (Eph 6:10-20; James 5:16). Be open and honest with them, and when you fail, take responsibility and ask for forgiveness. Say, ‘I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?’ Share your struggles and prayer requests with them, and encourage them to share theirs with you. Then, pray together over these challenges. Always be ready to sit and pray with your child, letting them know that you will pray for their spiritual growth. Ask them to pray for your spiritual growth as well. Show them the importance of daily spiritual growth.
Earnestly Leading Your Children
Let your eyes, as parents, always be toward the Lord (Psalm 25:15). And may you be able to say to your children, ‘Follow me as I follow the Lord.’ We should be able to say to our children, ‘I am not perfect; I struggle. But let my eyes always be on the Lord.
To Be Responsive to the Needs of Your Wife and Children
Strive by God’s grace to meet their needs while guiding them to the “One who ultimately fulfills all needs.” At times, we may not be able to fulfill their needs, but we must, by God’s grace, do our best (Colossians 3:19, 21). Be responsive to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs—emphasizing the importance of instilling a sense of confidence in them. And as you do so, direct their hearts toward the greatest “Fulfiller of needs.
These six expectations for parents mentioned in God’s Word require continuous effort to achieve. However, He would not have given you the gift of children without also granting you the ability to raise them in Christ. Be faithful to Him, do the work of the Lord, and ask Him for strength, ability, and grace. He loves you more than you love your children.
Do you have a favorite verse for parents to live by? Let us know in the comments.
For further benefit: read and reflect on Psalm 128.
