A Fathers Greatest Joy
âI have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.â
When a child pursues truth and walks in wisdom, it makes their father joyful because he can trust his children to make good choices, represent his family well, and focus on what is rightâregardless of their circumstances. Seeing your child walk in truth assures you that they can handle whatever comes their way.
A Man Who Fathers A Wise Son Rejoices In Him
âListen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Buy the truth and do not sell itâ
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.â
God is the one who ultimately makes us righteous and gives us wisdom. But fathers have an opportunity to participate in the process. And when a father sees that God has used him to produce righteousness and wisdom in his child, itâs something to rejoice about.
Parents often look at their children and say things like, âHow did we make such a beautiful baby?â We know that it is God who creates life, but we get to participate in the incredible process. In the same way, he uses us to produce righteousness and wisdom in our children.
In Order To Raise Godly Children Parents Must Model Godliness
In order to raise godly children, by necessity, parents must model godliness. Children often model the character of their parents. Listen to how Paul challenged Christians: Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God . He called them to imitate God, their father, as dear children and to live a life of love. As a parent, God is loving, righteous, holy, etc., and therefore, his children will in some ways reflect his character.
Similarly, parents must be people of character if they are going to raise godly children. Children raised in a loving home, by parents with character, typically mimic the virtues demonstrated by their parents. In contrast, parents who are not around, who lack self-control in their speech or with their anger, etc., produce the same character in their children. They wont be able to cultivate righteousness in them. In fact, the hypocrisy will only lead them to rebel.
Parents who dont model godliness will not be able to cultivate it in their children. And sadly for Christian parents, the consequences can be disastrous; many children fall away from God all together because of the hypocrisy seen in their homes. In order to raise godly children, parents must model godly character.
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Bible Verses About Parenting And The Role Of A Parent
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Even in our current culture and time, there are a variety of popular;parental styles.;You may know them by their nicknames such as the helicopter parent, the tiger mom, and the free-range parent. Each of these parenting styles assumes a distinct belief system about the needs, nature, and capabilities of children. Do you subscribe to one of these? You may need to challenge your underlying assumptions. As Christians, we must look to the bible to understand children and our roles in parenting them.
Even When He Is Old He Will Not Depart From It
What a seemingly simple, but overwhelmingly complicated verse! Its one of the most quoted and often misquoted verses in the Bible .
People often use this verse as a guarantee that if you raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord;, theyll always stay on the right path. That interpretation can be problematic, particularly for the good parents I know who have seen their older children stray from the faith. We all know that we can try our best, and sometimes the results are different than we would have hoped. God has given us free will to make our own choices, after all.
Another view of Proverbs 22:6 is that the writer was saying the exact opposite. Its not a guarantee for parents, but rather a warning. Dr. Douglas Stuart from Gordon Theological Seminary holds this view citing many notable scholars. According to Stuart, the difference comes from the addition of the word should in the English translations, something thats not supported in the original Hebrew. Without the should the nature of the verse changes. Its more about allowing your children to go their own way, not the way they should go. In this view, the reading would be more like Train up a child in his own way, and when he is old he will not depart from it. That certainly changes things, doesnt it?
Want to pray for your child that they may grow in wisdom and faith? Download your FREE printable prayer guide here for blessings for your children.
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The Importance Of Discipline
Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them .
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die .
A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother .
Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire .
Without discipline, children develop the behavioral patterns that make the most sense to them; and thats not good for anyone.;
Children raised without discipline bring disgrace to their parents. Their choices reveal that they never had consequences.;An absence of consequences is truly a form of neglect. Disciplining children isnt easy. To do it wisely requires a lot of discernment, strategy and effort. But its easier to discipline younger children who are developing than it is to try and fix the problems that a lack of discipline introduces.
Think of it like planting a garden. The proper care of a growing garden is time-consuming. It requires weeding and pruning. But its less work than letting a garden grow however it chooses and then trying to change it after the fact. Once the weeds have overtaken it and all the plants and trees are overgrown or diseased, the effort required to turn things around is immense.
Bible Verses About Raising Children
Children are such a beautiful gift, and unfortunately today we see more than ever that they are being seen as a burden. This mentality is so far from what God would ever want. Its our job as Christians to really expose the beauty of parenting.
Though children do take a lot of time, resources, patience, and love they are so worth it! Having four of my own I have had to learn with time what truly God wants from me for my children. What I can share with others about children and our Judy. There are so many therapists and counselors that can help you;know;how to be a parent but truly the best way is to turn to God and His Word.
Today I wanted to touch up on some of the many responsibilities we have as Christian patents towards our children. In no specific order but all just as important.
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Your Father Gives Good Things To Those Who Ask Him
âWhich of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!â
Fathers canât give their children everything they want. But they do their best to give good gifts and fulfill their childrenâs needs. Jesus uses this example to remind us that God is a much better father than any human could ever be, and as his children, we can trust God to provide us with good things.
Bible Verses About Raising Children: Scriptures
Ive always loved kids because they are blessings from God.
Just two weeks ago, my wife had a positive pregnancy test.
While we are happy about the pregnancy, we also had a fun talk about the future of our kids.
Of course, we want the best for our kids.
But there are still lots of issues about parenting we would need Gods help on.
Some include;
How hard should we be on our kids?
How should we bring up our children in the fear of God?
What important qualities do we want in our kids?
How many kids do we want?
It is quite normal to ask these questions.
And luckily, there are bible verses about raising children we can learn from.
Not surprisingly, My wife and I have conflicting experiences during childhood.
I was a cool dude while growing up.
And that was because my dad was so principled and harsh.
He had his rules; if you break them you will be severely punished.
For this reason, I was always so scared of my dad.
In fact, once he is around, I quickly leave the sitting room to study at the dining.
On the other hand, my wife was treated with kid gloves by her parents.
She believes that raising up kids is not entirely about being harsh and principled.
That we must instill love in our kids to get the best out of them.
If you are searching for scriptures on how to raise your child, I have compiled bible verses to inspire you.
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Children Are Part Of Gods Creative Plan
God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Genesis 1:28
After creating Adam and Eve, God commanded that they be fruitful, or have children. The original design included families with children. Kids werent an afterthought. Everything about creation was pronounced good, including his design for children.
What The Bible Says About Raising Strong
Raising children is not easy. You love your child unconditionally, but it takes a lot of patience to handle him — especially if he is strong-willed. Strong-willed children want their way and will let you know in no uncertain terms what their desires are and how you should fulfill them. They also have a hard time knowing when to stop arguing, because they want to win. The Bible might help you get through to your strong-willed child … and it could save your sanity in the process.
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Bible Verses About Parenting Responsibilities
We are stewards, but just because we dont own our children, doesnt mean we dont have responsibility for their well-being. If its your job to care for something you dont own, then you are a manager or steward.
If your primary responsibility as a parent is to be a good steward of your children, then you need to treat the position with the reverence it is due. God has high standards for stewards and He will hold you accountable.
What does God expect from parents? Here are 3 main areas of responsibility for parents and the Bible verses to remember along with them. .
Applying Biblical Parenting Is Precept Upon Precept
Understanding comes in small bite-size pieces. Reading a verse > understanding the character of God within that verse > applying it to your parenting. Once you understand His character, its much easier to understand how it relates to your parenting and how to apply it.
Just like the people who wrote those books came alongside me years ago, Im here to come alongside you. Being here, right now, reading these words, means that you understand the call upon your life to your kids.
You dont believe all the lies the negative parenting culture tells you about your kids being destined to disobey, fight and rebel. No youre not having it.
Ephesians 6:4 sums it up in a nice little package: do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
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What Does The Bible Say About Raising A Child
There is no better source for good parenting and child training than the bible. There just isnt. Answer this question: What does the bible say about raising a child? and you dont have to wonder if youre doing it right, because Gods word is true. But how are you supposed to find that answer buried in a bunch of thees and thous? Well, Im going to help you, because the fact that you are so committed to raising godly kids, and biblical parenting, makes me do a happy dance!
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Do Not Exasperate Your Children
âChildren, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. âHonor your father and motherââwhich is the first commandment with a promiseââso that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.â Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.â
The Bible doesnât just tell children to obey and honor their parents. It also tells fathers not to do or say things that deeply frustrate their children. The ESV translates âdo not exasperate your childrenâ as âdo not provoke your children to anger.â
A fatherâs goal should be to bring out the best in his children. If a father angers or frustrates his children, heâs leading them into sin and steering them away from what God desires for them. This can be incredibly difficult, and following Paulâs admonition requires fathers to be intimately attuned to their childâs heart and sensitive to their weaknesses.
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We Need To Consistently Correct/ Discipline Our Children
Hate is a strong word, but I can honestly say that I hate disciplining my children. At times it breaks my heart. At times its exhausting. Every time it would be much easier if I simply decided to let it slide and not correct them.
Handing out loving, but firm consistent discipline is hard work! But, it is what God has called us to do. And we already know all of the reasons why. Even if we arent seeing much fruit at the time, it will be more than worth it in the end.
Stay faithful, sweet friend. God sees you and will enable you to love, care for, and discipline your children in a way that honors Him, if you faithfully seek His grace, patience, and strength.
What Does Proverbs Say About Parenting?
If youre looking for some additional Bible verses about parenting responsibilities, please be sure to read the Proverbs. Its interesting to note that the majority of parenting verses in Proverbs actually have to do with disciplining, correcting, and guiding our children. Here are a few helpful vereses to think upon.
The Lord Carried You As A Father Carries His Son
âThen I said to you, âDo not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.ââ
âAs a father carries his son,â the Lord carried the Israelites out of slavery, fought off their enemies, provided for them through their wandering in the desert, and brought them into the promised land.
When a child isnât strong enough to do something on their own, their father can carry them through it. Fathers advocate for their children. They provide wisdom and guidance in the face of uncertainty. And with the protection of a loving father, a child doesnât have to be afraid.
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He Will Turn The Hearts Of The Parents To Their Children
âHe will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.â
Malachi challenged the Israelites to honor their covenant with God and reconnect with him or else face the consequences of their separation from him. He predicted that one day God would send Elijah to turn peopleâs hearts toward what is good and right. For fathers, part of honoring God is loving your children well and having compassion for them. Fathers arenât just responsible for teaching their children what is right, but for caring about their needs, hurts, desires, dreams, and problems.
A Father Should Never Take Away His Love
âI will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.â
Speaking through Nathan, God promised David that he would treat Davidâs son as his own child. No matter what sins Davidâs son committed, and no matter how harshly he was disciplined, God promised that he would always love him.
God is the only perfect Father. But the way he loves his children is a model every father should aspire to.
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