WHAT AN AUTHENTIC DAD DOES - VOL II ISSUE 2

What a Dad Does

“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” Gen 18:19 ESV

By the way….you are a child of Abraham (Gal 6:3-9)!

Have you considered that you are to command (some versions use “direct” but either way, it’s pretty strong) your children and grandchildren to keep the way of the Lord?  Modern thinking is that you suggest your faith and then let them explore all the other “ways to God” and let them make their own choice about God, Jesus, satan, grace, heaven, hell, sin, salvation, etc. But that’s not what the Bible says…you just read it above, you must “command (or direct) your descendants” to keep the way of the Lord. 

So what are you to command about “keeping the way of the Lord”?  Some would say, make sure that you’ve taught all the laws and statutes and principles in the Bible.  Others would say, explain exclusively about His grace and sovereignty.   Still others would say, we only need the gospels the rest has become unnecessary and outdated.   But the Bible says about itself, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” II Tim 3:16.  I like the paraphrase someone has shared….Scripture explains to us the right road (true Gospel)….it helps us understand when we get off the road….it shows us how to get back on the road….and it coaches us in how to stay on the road. This includes the Old and New Testaments, the law and grace, sin and its consequences, obedience and its blessings…..all of it!

How do you “command your children and your household after you to keep the way of the Lord”?  Notice that it says you are to do it by “doing righteous and justice”.  Other passages us explain that we must verbalize the truth to our prodigy but this passage says you have to live it….your walk must equal your talk. 

Are you keeping the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice?  The Bible says, all our righteousness’s are as filthy rags (Isa 64:6)….so how can we DO righteousness?  The truth is that we have to be “IN HIM”.  This is the continual theme of the New Testament.  We can only DO righteousness and justice by abiding in Christ (John 15).  Only then you authenticate the truth with what you do.  

What had God spoken about Abraham?

·         He would have a child in his old age – Gen 17:16

·         He would be the father of a great nation – Gen 12:2

·         God would make his name great – Gen 12:2

·         His descendants would be as numerous as the sand on the sea shore – Gen 22:17

·         He would will be a father to many nations – Gen 17:4

·         All the families / nations of the earth would be blessed through him – Gen 12:3 / 22:18

What has God spoken about you?

·         You are of the seed of Abraham – Gal 3:7

·         You are the righteousness of Christ – II Cor 5:21

·         You reign in life – Rom 5:17

·         You are the light of the world – Matt 5:14

·         You are the salt of the earth – Matt 5:13

·         You have been saved from the wrath of God – Rom 5:9

·         You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you – Phil 4:13

·         You are an overcomer – John 16:33

·         You can overcome evil with good – Rom 12:21

·         You are grafted into the vine – John 15:5

·         You can produce good fruit in abundance – John 15:5

·         You have the joy of Jesus – John 15:11

·         You are a fisher of men – Matt 4:19

·         You are a disciple maker – Matt 28:19-20

·         By the way – there are hundreds more

Will you “command your children and grandchildren to keep the way of the Lord”?

Be careful, Jesus warned it wasn’t about putting on a religious show, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.  But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matt 5:1-4 

If you want God to bring about all that he promised Abraham’s seed (that includes you and your descendants) then you WILL command your children by your words and deeds…and according to Scripture this only happens by continually abiding in Him.

THIS IS WHAT AN AUTHENTIC DAD DOES!