August 1, 2006

 

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

--Proverbs 1:8-9

 

Yesterday, we learned that wise families fear and respect the Lord. Today we’ll see that wise families also commit themselves to obedience.

 

As parents, it’s important to teach your kids to obey you. Because this is how they will learn to obey God!

 

In the verses above, the word instruction is from a Hebrew word that includes the idea of counsel, warning, and correction. Dads, your role in the family is to be firm in instruction, to lay down reasonable rules and fair boundaries, and to give correction and fair discipline.

 

The word teaching in the verses above describes the work of a mom in the house. It’s a word that actually means coaxing or coaching. In other words, moms, your role in teaching is to push the kids a little bit like a mama bird with a nest full of little birds.

 

When it’s time for those baby birds to fly, the mama stirs up the nest, flaps her wings, and coaxes those little birds to elevate!

 

Parents, I want to ask you today, are you teaching your children to obey you? Furthermore, when your kids look at your life, can they see that you’re obeying your heavenly Father?

 

WISE FAMILIES COMMIT THEMSELVES TO OBEDIENCE.