The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them. – Proverbs 20:7 (NLT)
Scripture and history show us that as goes the home, so goes the society. And generally speaking–as go the fathers, so goes the home. The moral and spiritual condition of the society is always the offspring of the family.
We live in a day and in a culture that tries to minimize fathers, who are so important in the development of their children. The Bible is clear that fathers are to be spiritual leaders in the home. Dads have a vital role in bringing strength and stability to the home.
Deuteronomy 6:4-10 has been called the Magna Carta of the home which would guarantee the happiness and well being of the family in the purpose of God. It tells us to love God with all our mind, being and strength and to teach that to our children.
The Bible tells us (Proverbs 22:6) to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” It also tells us (Proverbs 13:22) that “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.” Most think of that as a monetary inheritance, but it applies as well to leaving a spiritual legacy.
The role of the father is to plant acorns to grow mighty oak trees under which they will never sit. In other words, it is more important to leave a spiritual legacy than a financial one.
Fathers should love their children as much as their heavenly Father loves them.
APPLY: As a father, consider how you can instill the love of God and the desire to follow him as a guiding light. Be not only a physical father, but also a spiritual mentor as well, remembering that we are always only a generation away from losing our faith without the younger generation to carry the torch of faith.
PRAYER: Father, I pray for all fathers that they may rise up and instill the Gospel in their children for the sake of this generation and for generations to come.
Used with permission, John Grant
God’s Holy Spirit enables you to be the kind of man God wants you to be. To begin walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, you can open your heart and life to Him right now by praying this prayer with sincerity:
Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.”
More Articles:
Godly Fathers – a Biblical perspective
Ten Things to Teach your Son about True Manhood – by John Grant
My Dad’s Love Frank shares a true story of how his father’s love affected his life.
A Father’s Prayer for His Children
Another Prayer for Children
How my Son Changed my Priorities. The Ed Becker story