By Charles Stanley
Exodus 20:1-12
The father is head of the home. The Lord placed him in this position so he'll give the family godly direction and guidance. God calls children to obey their father as they would obey Him. But dad is the one who teaches them how.
When a child questions authority, a possible parental response is, "Because I said so." To the parent, this phrase should end all discussion and whining. After all, mom or dad has made a decision and won't change their mind. But as children grow older, those four simple words position Dad as their ultimate authority. In a child's mind, a rebellious sin is against only his earthly father.
A godly dad understands who the true authority is. In training his children, he transfers a sense of accountability from himself to the Lord. He teaches his kids that he's God's representative in the household. And if they choose to disobey, they'll have to answer to their heavenly Father. This approach helps children recognize their accountability before the Lord. When dad isn't around to give instruction or guidance, they'll still choose to make wise choices because of God's presence.
The greatest protection a father gives his children is to instill a sense of accountability to God. This isn't a one-time lesson. It's a process that lasts throughout the childhood years. During this time, dad should respond to his children's questions and actions with a new phrase. He should say, "Let's see what God says about that."
From Crossmap.com. Used with Permission
