Do you remember when the words “One nation under God, indivisible…” were treated as if they were sacred? “In God we trust” seemed to be written on the hearts of nearly every citizen, and not just on the coins he carried in his pocket. But things have changed, and some would dare to ask, Why?
Jesus often alluded to the cause of this same breakdown when it led to the demise of His own people: And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read… (Matthew 19:4). Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read… (Matthew 21:16). The same phrase is used nine times in the gospels.
Neglect of the Scriptures has always resulted in an extinguished spiritual flame. Nowhere is this truth more visible than in our families. In order to perpetuate godliness, we must teach our children the essentials of faith, but we have utterly failed. According to the Bible, the burden of this responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of us Dads.
Ephesians 6:4 says, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Together, the words “nurture and admonition of the Lord” include every aspect of raising children: cultivating the mind and morals, training them to care for their bodies, curbing the desires of the flesh, reproof and correction, etc.
Hey Dads, isn’t it time we took our God given responsibility seriously? We need to stop dropping the burden of child rearing on our wives. Let’s get serious about raising our children in the Book! …and by the Book.
We would do well to revisit the timeless truth that was delivered to Israel many years ago. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9) Only in the Word of God will we find deliverance from the spiritual darkness of our day.