Obeying God as a Father: Six Ways to Make an Impact on Your Children and Culture
As fathers, the impact we have on our children has a far-reaching effect on the future of our culture. Our children are the next generation of leaders, and the values and beliefs we instill in them will shape the direction of our society. By leading our families in obedience to God and teaching our children His ways, we can help to create a future culture that is grounded in biblical truth and righteousness. Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Fathers have a tremendous responsibility to guide and lead their families in the ways of the Lord. It is not an easy task, but it is one that is essential to the spiritual well-being of our children and the health of our homes. Here are six ways that we can fulfill our calling to obey God as fathers and bring up our children to love and serve Him.
Pray for wisdom and guidance from God in your role as a father.
It is essential that we seek wisdom and guidance from God in all aspects of our lives, including our role as fathers. The Bible tells us in James 1:5 that "if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." Additionally, Colossians 1:9-11 reminds us to pray "that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Through prayer and seeking God's will, we can gain the wisdom and understanding we need to be effective fathers and lead our families in a way that pleases the Lord.
Set a godly example for your children by living a life of obedience to God's Word.
In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul writes, "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." Fathers have a unique opportunity to model for our children what it means to follow Christ and live out our faith. In Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul encourages us to "be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." By living a life of obedience to God's Word and exhibiting the love of Christ in our actions, we set a powerful example for our children and help them grow in their own faith.
Teach your children about God and His ways through regular Bible study and prayer.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 instructs us to
hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
By regularly studying the Bible and praying with our children, we can help them to grow in their understanding and love of God and lay a strong foundation for their faith that will last throughout their lives.
Train your children in righteousness and discipline them with love and kindness.
Proverbs 22:15 tells us that "foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him." While discipline is necessary for the proper upbringing of children, it must always be done with love and kindness. We are to teach our children the ways of the Lord and discipline them when they stray from those ways, but always with the goal of helping them grow in righteousness and mature in their faith. As we train and discipline our children with love and kindness, we help them to become godly adults who love and serve the Lord.
Lead your family in worship and devotion to God.
In Psalm 95:6, we are told to "come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" It is up to us to set an example of worship and devotion to God. By leading our families in regular worship and devotion to God, we instill in them a love for the Lord and a desire to serve Him. We can also model for them what it looks like to have a personal relationship with God and to draw near to Him in prayer and Bible study.
Show your children love and affection and demonstrate the love of Christ to them in your words and actions.
In Ephesians 5:25, Paul writes that husbands are to love their wives "as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." We can extend this principle to our role as fathers and demonstrate Christ's love to our children through our words and actions. First John 4:19 tells us that "we love because he first loved us." We can show the love of Christ which we experience to our children and demonstrate to them the depth and breadth of God's love. When we show love and affection to our children and model the love of Christ, we help them to grow in their own understanding of God's love and the importance of loving others.
