‘Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”’ Genesis 1:28(NLT)
‘“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.’ Exodus 20:12(NLT)
‘My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.’ Proverbs 1:8-9(NLT)
‘Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.’ Proverbs 13:24(NLT)
‘Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.’ Proverbs 22:6(NLT)
‘To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.’ Proverbs 29:15(NLT)
‘Fathers, 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.’ Ephesians 6:4(NLT)
‘No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.’ Hebrews 12:11(NLT)
No matter what challenges we face in raising our children, we must remember that it is our responsibility from the Lord. He will give us the strength to do it. However, He also expects us to do it well. Interestingly, there are few instructions given to children in Scripture. They should believe the Gospel, which is true for everyone, and they should obey their parents. Most other Scriptural instructions address parents.
Since parents are the primary authority at home, they are the leaders. God expects more from them than He does from children. Young people are taught to be learners throughout the book of Proverbs, but parents are to take the lead in living a godly lifestyle and teaching their children to do the same. In our culture children are sometimes given too much freedom or too much responsibility. Some parents say that they let their children decide whether or not they want to go to church. That is wrong. As a parent, you are in control of your child’s life and their Christian upbringing. You have to get them to do the right thing.
You are in your children’s lives for a reason: to guide, instruct, and mold them into the godly people they are to become. The Bible sees parents as the influencers in their children’s lives. You must teach your children to honor the Lord. You also need to teach them to honor you. This will help them to know how to honor authority. Of course, you must also behave honorably. You cannot yell at your spouse, lie to others, or cheat in your business and expect your children to honor the godliness in you. You must be godly.
Model honor for your children; they will follow your lead. The Scriptures tell us that children might not like discipline at the time it is given, but later it will produce a fruit of righteousness and peace in their lives. Your children might not be as enthusiastic about going to church on Sunday or reading the Bible at home as you would like them to be. But if you stay firm and consistent, these godly disciplines will become part of their lives. They will thank you when they grow up.
from How To Be A Good Christian Parent