Our expectations for our children should be that they will love the Lord and pursue Him and forsake the things of this world to walk alongside Christ and fulfill His calling on their lives. Too often we see parents with low expectations for their children. Many parents think their kids are just fine because they aren't doing the things they were doing when they were teens such as drinking, drugs, sex, or whatever sin they were engaging in. Is that our standard? Really? Try measuring up your children to God's standards, with the first standard being loving the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. Praise God if that's what's going on in your child's heart. If not, no matter how "good" they are it's not good enough!
I even heard a pastor say once in a men's study that he is just planting seeds in his boys and when they rebel against God as teens he hopes they will have something to fall back onto in their 20s! I wasn't much for that men's study after those words of anti-wisdom (I just made that word up, in case you noticed). We need to expect our children will love the Lord and, most importantly, follow through by discipling them and modeling a faithful walk with Christ and showing our dependence on Him in our own lives. Do your children ever see you reading your Bible? Do they ever see you praying? Do they ever hear you talking about the Lord and his grace, mercy, faithfulness and everlasting love? Do they ever hear you talking about making decisions based on what the Lord is speaking to you in prayer and in His word, and not trying to do things in your own strength?
Fathers, be leaders in your families and lead your children to Christ by following Christ. Love and obey God unconditionally. Receive His mercy and be merciful in return. Be humble. Love others. Serve others, starting in your own family. Make disciples, starting with your children.
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