We all need help at times when it comes to parenting our children. Whether it be early when they are babies, elementary age, or teenagers – parents need support and guidance. I believe our success is in who we turn to for our support and training in parenting. Some may turn to friends who have children or you may turn to your parents, but one resource few use is the Bible. God’s word has a great deal to say about parenting, since God is the Father to all.
1. Learning the Bible and teaching it to your children
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.7 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.8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, ESV)
Making the Bible a primary event in your house will help to guide you and your family. I am not saying that you need to go home and write scripture around your doors. I think this means it should be so prevalent and from the time you or any walk in your home they know God’s word is alive in your home.
2. Do not tempt or provoke you children
2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:2-4, ESV)
Parents play a crucial role in the discipleship of their parents. We should not be domineering and controlling, so that we do not anger our children and drive them away from God. Instead we should lead them in the way of the Lord and instruct them in how to lead a Godly life. Parental discipleship should center on the message in Ephesians 4-5: Unity in the body of Christ, the new life in Christ, walking in love, and demonstrating how husbands and wives should love each other.
3. Fathers teach your sons / Mothers teach your daughters and together raise your family
1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. (Proverbs 13:1, ESV)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)
Dad’s you are the spiritual leaders of your family and as such it is up to you to represent God to your family. Many individuals related to God the Father based on how their earthly fathers treat them. You need to be consciences of this when you teach your children so that they see God as the great father He truly is. Fathers should teach their sons to be gentlemen, to be strong, to be courageous and to live a life of purity. Likewise mothers should teach their daughters to be pure, honest, strong, and to love God more than human men. Together as husband and wife you should be united in teaching your children how to live for God and honor you and others.
4. Love your children
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.2 and if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-2, ESV)
Loving our children should be the number one priority as parents. This does not mean that we don’t discipline, but that we discipline them in love. God does this for us and we are his children. We should show our children true love based on the biblical teach we have received: 4Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV)
5. Provide for your children a future
14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? (2 Corinthians 12:14-15, ESV)
As parents we need to do the best we can to help provide a future for our children. Helping by being financially responsible to help with college, or a vehicle, but the most important thing we can do for their future is teaching them of God. If we teach them of God and his way their future will be open and they will have the Holy Spirit guiding them along the way.
6. Imitate God to your children
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV)
Show your how to live a Godly life by imitating God’s Word. Don’t just teach them about God, but live it out in your own life. Actually love others, do for others, go to church, and pray for and with your children. As you live out the Christian life your children will see this and hopefully through the grace of God follow your footsteps toward God.
The Valor Commission 