More than anything, your actions show what you really believe. You cannot rely on the method, “Do as I say and not as I do!” to teach your children in the way they should go. God tells us to teach our children when we get up in the morning until we go to bed at night. He tells us to talk about His commandments when we sit in our house and when we walk along the way. In other words, we are to tell our children about God in all that we do. God must be real in your life for you to do this! Time must be spent in God’s word. You must be prepared.

Two truths that you can always show your children is that God is Great and Good. God’s creation shows his greatness. Man has tried to ignore the greatness of God by denying God the credit and glory of His creation. Genesis, Chapter 1, tells the creation account. In six days, God did His creation work. How great is our God!

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. — Genesis 1:31 (KJV)

This creation work of God is so important to Him, that one of His names is Creator. It is a great comfort to us, and our little ones, to know that the One who created all things is the One whom we can trust with every detail of our lives. There is nothing too big or small that God cannot take care of!

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. — Isaiah 40:28 (KJV)

In fact, because God created everything, He is able to give wisdom and understanding for all the issues of life. A little one can know that, “Daddy and Mommy know God, and, God makes them wise and strong to protect me.”

Because we have a great God, we do not need to fear. Your children can place their trust in you because of the God you love and serve. They can know that when Daddy or Mommy have a problem they take it to God. As they see this work again and again, they learn that God is a Great God who takes care of, not only Daddy and Mommy, but also of them!

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; — Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV)

Your children must also know that God is a Good God. Once again, they will only learn this if you live your life believing this truth. There are so many things that you can give glory to God. Think of simple things, like the new day, the home you live in, and the food and clothing you have. God is good in that he loves and cares for us!

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. — Matthew 6:30-32 (KJV)

God is good and he will provide for you and your family. Model thankfulness in your life and you will raise children who are thankful, too.

God’s goodness does not end with physical provision, but extends to a most glorious level. That level is salvation. Even though we do not deserve it, God provides a way for us to be with Him forever! This is the blessed hope of all who trust in Christ. This is the blessed hope that your children must see in your life.

Every child will one day reach a point in their life where they will be searching for love, acceptance, and their own identity. Either they will find it with God and their family, or they will find it in the pleasures of the world. The foundation for these future decisions is laid down when they are young. As much as your children try to please you, they know deep down inside that they will never be perfect. They know their sin all too well.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; — Romans 3:23 (KJV)

They will also, one day, come face to face with the fact that God is a Holy God who must judge sin. This is a scary thought for children, and especially teenagers.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 6:23 (KJV)

It is up to you, as a father or mother, to show how good God really is. God is so good that he has given us a way to be right with Him. It is so easy to focus on the first part of Romans 6:23 and miss the second part! A child dealing with guilt can especially obsess on God’s judgment. Are you bringing down judgment on the child, too? Or, are you pointing to the way of forgiveness and cleansing? It is so easy to make your child feel like they need to work their way out of their sin. While we know there are consequences for actions, we also know that a great burden is lifted through confession, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. — Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

Show through your actions how good God is. Show forth the love of God that is in your heart. Seek God to increase your love! God has given you a gift that your children can receive, too. It is a gift that shows God’s goodness above all that could ever be done. Remember that “the gift of God is eternal life.” It is given, though we do not deserve it. Yes, God is a Great and Good God.

God bless, Mike

Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock? — Jeremiah 13:20 (KJV)

God brought judgment on Judah because they refused to hear God’s words. They were carried away captive by the godless people from the north. This is what Jeremiah’s lament is about. Where is thy beautiful flock?

When I think about the man and his son, I wonder, “Where is the beautiful son that I remember? What happened to that boy who’s smile could light up a room?” Our children are the flock that God has given us. This man’s son had been taken away. By what? I don’t know. This I do know. It doesn’t have to stay that way. God makes this promise to us.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. — Malachi 4:5-6 (KJV)

These two verses close out the Old Testament. It is a prophecy of what God will do. It says that God will turn the heart of the father to his children. With this, he also turns the hearts of the children to their father. There is an order here that I want to explore that may not be obvious at first.

You can clearly see that the father’s heart is turned first. But what turns his heart? Is it what the prophet says? If so, what is the great message of the prophets? I would put forth that it is for man to turn back to God to and repent of his sins! That is the kind of man that God will do a great “heart work” in. That is the man that God will cause his children’s hearts to turn back to. A right heart toward God will produce a right heart toward your children. It is here that reconciliation and restoration can occur.

If you don’t do it, these verses have a different message. It says that God will smite the earth with a curse. I think that this curse, at least in part, is the disobedience and rebellion of your children.

I pray that you don’t have this in your home. It is extremely important that you watch the relationships you have with your children. Look for signs that things are not quite right. Reflect on your own life to see if your heart is after something other than God.

I found something interesting when studying the life of Jacob. There is a point in time when Jacob realizes that God had not forgotten him. He is speaking to his wives, Rachel and Leah about their father.

And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. — Genesis 31:4-5 (KJV)

Notice how Jacob realizes that “the God of my father hath been with me.” I especially want to emphasize that it is the God of Jacob’s father. In his time of distress, Jacob remembers the God of his father. Isaac’s God was real to Jacob, because God was real to Isaac. Here is where your faith in God comes in. It is seen daily in your life and witnessed by your children. They will believe this more than anything you say. It is your actions toward God and toward your children that count.

Turn your heart toward God, who will turn you and your children’s hearts toward each other in love.

God Bless, Mike

We all have good and bad days when it comes to family relationships. It is a valuable activity to make an honest appraisal of how well your children get along with each other. If there is disharmony or distance, you have a problem that needs to be addressed.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. — James 3:16-17 (KJV)

Envy and strife can show themselves in different ways. One child may express it in a way that causes disharmony, while another may withdraw and become distant. This verse states that when you see envying and strife, you will find confusion and evil works. You may not be able to put your finger on it, but you know something is not right. As a parent, you need to seek God’s wisdom for this problem.

God uses strong language in the Bible. He calls it like it is. We tend to make excuses for what is going on by using weaker language when thinking about these issues. If you see glares flying from one child to another, do you pass it off as sibling rivalry, or, do you see it as envy manifesting itself? What about an on-going feud between a brother and sister? Are they learning Godly roles for men and women as they grow up, or, is this strife manifesting itself?

If your child withdraws and becomes distant, do you pass it off as a stage they are going through? It seems to be “normal behavior” in our society today, for teenagers to distance themselves from their parents and siblings. They begin to set their affections on someone or something else and you start to loose their heart. (This can even happen at an earlier age!) The teen years are a time when children should be a blessing and of great help. The family should grow closer together in love and caring.

What is it in your child’s life that is stealing their affections? It could be as simple as a gift your child received that now consumes that child’s time and attention. They like the gift a lot. In fact, they may even love that gift above their family. This sounds extreme, but think about it. If there is strife in your home, what is the cause of it? Is there something that one of your child loves so much that it is starting to divide your family?

Does God’s peace characterize your family? I think this is something that we have a hard time relating to, because our culture is so fast-paced and anything but quiet. If that affects us, just think of the influence it has on our children. When I think of peace, I think of deep contentment. I think of time to spend with your children, forming strong ties with their hearts. I see the love of God and family that lasts eternally. It is built on faith in God that lasts for generations.

When I tried to think of examples from Scripture, I immediately thought of Timothy, the young pastor, who was as a son to Paul. Who helped to produce this faith in Timothy?

When I call to rememberance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. — 2 Timothy 1:5 (KJV)

Paul gives credit to Timothy’s mother and grandmother. It was Timothy’s home life that produced unfeigned faith. Lois and Eunice were godly women who passed that faith on to Timothy. I believe that this was not common in that day and age. It is probably less common today to see multi-generational faith pouring into the life of a child. If you have that, you are blessed indeed! If you don’t have it, then it is time to start! You can set the foundation with Jesus as the cornerstone. On that foundation, your children and grandchildren will be built and can be used of God.

Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. — Proverbs 17: (KJV)

Look over your children and think about what you see. Examine everything from an eternal perspective. Only faith in Jesus is lasting. There is no joy if any of your children gain the whole world, yet loose their soul. There is no glory in that. Use love as a measuring stick and faith in Jesus Christ as your point of reference. Build your family together with a common purpose and goal. Set your sights on the Savior and lead your children with you. Don’t let them go their own way and get lost.

God bless, Mike

Last Father’s Day, my children sang a song for me. It was put to the tune of “Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us.” Here are the words.

Father, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need thy tender care;
In thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use thy home prepare.
Blessed Father, Blessed Father,
Thou wast giv’n us, thine we are.

We are thine; do thou instruct us;
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep thy flock; from sin defend us;
Seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Father, Blessed Father,
Hear thy children when we play.

Early let us seek thy favor;
Early let us do thy will;
Blessed Lord and earthly Father,
With God’s love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Father, Blessed Father,
Thou hast loved us, love us still.

- Children’s version of “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”

Needless to say, it touched my heart deeply. What a joy it was to hear their sweet voices, asking me through beautiful song, to shepherd their souls! I believe that this is the desire of all children, that their father would love them like a good shepherd. The Lord Jesus tells us what it means to be a good shepherd.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:11 (KJV)

This verse is set in the context of a shepherd, protecting his sheep from thieves and robbers.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy
John 10:10a (KJV)

The purpose of the enemy is to destroy our children! It is against this that we have to maintain constant vigilance. Jesus compares the good shepherd to an hireling. The hireling flees when trouble comes. This can take many forms, but let’s consider one form you may not have thought about.

What do you do when you sense something is not right with your child? You would know this if you are a careful observer of your child’s soul. Do you approach your child with firm love? Or, do you let it go, hoping that it will go away. “It’s just a stage he is going through.” “All teenagers are like that!” “She is just tired. I’m sure it will pass.” It can be easy to justify a behavior or attitude, rather than addressing it and getting to the heart of the matter. Don’t make excuses! Take action!

You may ask, “How do I take action?” I have found that this is a matter, first of all, for prayer. You must seek God’s guidance, wisdom, and leading. You also must be absolutely calm and in control. Remember, you are approaching you beloved child in order to find out what is wrong. It is a heart matter and this matter is very dear to the child. Whatever it is that your child is struggling with, you as the parent must help them to get it in the open.

This can be a time of great blessing and instruction. It must not be delayed or ignored! There is no more tender a time than when a child confesses to you what is on their heart. It should be a cleansing time where the weight of the world is lifted from their shoulders. It should be a time that brings you and your child closer together. It won’t happen, if you are not diligent in the care of your flock.

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
Proverbs 27:23 (KJV)

Take the time to carefully and continually observe the spiritual state of your children. Then, be a good shepherd to them, like the Lord Jesus is to you.

God Bless, Mike

I love the last verse of the Old Testament, Malachi 4:6.

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. — Malachi 4:6 (KJV)

What a message for us, right before the New Testament starts! Oh fathers, do you pray that God will turn your heart toward your children? You may think that your heart is already turned toward you children. But is that true? When I meditate on this point, I am convicted that my heart is not turned like it should be. How often have I told one of my children, “Not now, I’m busy.” Or, “Later, when I have time.” Perhaps it is, “As soon as I am done with this….”

While we should not serve our children’s every whim and desire, we do need to spend time building fellowship and close relationships with our children. I believe that if we examine our hearts carefully, we will find there is room for improvement. It takes a lot of discipline to be a father, whether you have one child or ten. We can’t do it in our own power. It takes the inner working of God to turn our hearts to our children the way our hearts should be turned!

Malachi 4:6 is an end-time prophetic verse. Read Malachi 4:5-6 together. God is moving in the last days to strengthen families and it starts with the fathers. Look at the benefits of following God in this matter. The heart of your children will be turned back to you. Think of what they will be turning away from! All the evil and corruption of this present world.

Is this not one of the main reasons why we have chosen to homeschool our children? We don’t want to lose their hearts to the world. We want to see them grow up to love and serve the Lord Jesus. We don’t want them to live in a world which God will smite with a curse. Finally, we want to see them in heaven.

Fathers, ask God to show you. Is my heart turned toward my children?

God bless, Mike

It cannot be said that the subject is a new one. The world is old, and we have the experience of nearly six thousand years to help us. We live in days when there is a mighty zeal for education in every quarter. We hear of new schools rising on all sides. We are told of new systems, and new books for the young, of every sort and description. And still for all this, the vast majority of children are manifestly not trained in the way they should go, for when they grow up to man’s estate, they do not walk with God.

The book is only 34 pages long, but is filled with wisdom that is direct and to the point. It is divided into seventeen short sections. This lends itself for use as a Bible study between husband and wife. Each point stands alone, helping you to meditate on them.

Based on Proverbs 22:6, the reader is taken through a complete list of areas in which to train their children. Each section of the book starts with a topic like this. First, then, if you would train your children rightly, train them in the way they should go, and not in the way they would. Here is another one. Train with this thought continually before your eyes that the soul of your child is the first thing to be considered.

I heartily recommend this book. It is not filled with the latest trends in raising children, but rather it is filled with God’s instruction and wisdom. May God bless your home through the reading and study of this book.

Republished in 2002 by Grace & Truth Books, this book can be ordered through Cumberland Valley Bible Book Service. The cost is $2.25 plus postage.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. — Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

This excerpt from Psalm 128 describes something that everyone desires. That is, to be happy and well. In Part 1, we looked at some of the blessings that God gives to those that fear Him and walk in His ways. Contentment is one of these blessings. Your wife is another blessing that God promises.

I shall seek God’s blessing!

God’s blessing is promised to those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. This is a theme that is repeated throughout the Bible. I have listed a few verses on this topic and I am sure that you can find many others.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 (KJV)

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Luke 12:5 (KJV)

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:22 (KJV)

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. John 12:26 (KJV)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 (KJV)

Randy Alcorn, in his book The Purity Principle, gives this description of what it means to fear the Lord. “The fear of God is a profound respect for His holiness, which includes a fear of the consequences of disobeying Him.” Equally important is the need to follow God and walk in His ways. The blessings promised, especially for your family, are too important to be ignored. These blessings come because you follow and obey God.

Read Psalm 128 again and think about how it applies to you and your family. We left off last time with God comparing our wife to a fruitful vine. We looked at how diligent you must be in the care and nurture of your wife. This “nurturing” that you do is the natural out-pouring of the God-fearing life of a man who walks in God’s ways. You are changed from the inside and this has a profound effect on your wife and family.

1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD;
that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:
happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:
thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion:
and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.
Psalm 128 (KJV)

God gives another promise. This promise is about your children. He compares our children to olive plants. This is an interesting comparison if you consider the olive tree. An olive plant is slow-growing. Much patience and discipline is needed to grow an olive plant into a tree. It takes about 15 years before an olive tree will produce fruit. Once an olive tree is properly rooted, it will grow to a great age and bear much fruit. In fact, once it is established, it needs little supervision and it can live for hundreds of years. The olive tree will continue to produce, even in the driest of conditions.

The olive is a very important crop. Failure of this crop can lead to ruin. However, the olive branch is a symbol of peace, prosperity, and wealth. Can you see the application to your children in the illustration of the olive plant? Children are delicate when young. This is where everything is established for their lives. How you nurture and grow them now will have so much impact on the fruitfulness of their lives. Are they properly rooted in the things of God so that they will bear fruit until old age, in all sorts of diverse situations? Is their faith firmly established in Christ Jesus?

Psalm 128 concludes with more blessings from the Lord. We can see God’s faithfulness through the generations. Oh, to see our children’s children when there is peace for our nation! To know that faith in Jesus Christ is carried forward in future blessings in our grandchildren. These blessings actually overtake our grandchildren with a wave of faith. They can’t help but trust God! All this, because we followed God out of a deep respect for Him.

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD;
that walketh in his ways.
Psalm 128:1 (KJV)

God bless, Mike

Have you ever tried reading the 23rd Psalm, placing yourself as the shepherd? When you think about it, a father is the shepherd over his family. This is something worth meditating on! Let’s read together through “The Shepherd’s Psalm.”

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23 (KJV)

Verse 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

What if verse one read: “My daddy is my shepherd; I shall not want.” That paraphrase of the verse makes every line that follows, personal. Of course you can’t take the place of the Lord, but God does give you the responsibility to raise, nurture, instruct, discipline, lead, protect, and guide your children.

To understand this Psalm, we must understand what it means to be a shepherd. Simply put, a shepherd cares for sheep. Sheep are very dependent on the shepherd. A good shepherd will protect, feed, and water his flock. Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd in John 10:11-14.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:11-14 (KJV)

The first thing Jesus tells us about a good shepherd is that he would give his life for his sheep. He would not flee in times of danger. The good shepherd also knows all of his sheep, both by number and by name. It is interesting that Jesus uses the wolf as the example of a threat that chases away the hireling, but for which the good shepherd will risk his life fighting. The wolf is used to describe false teachers (Matthew 7:15) and as enemies to the flock of God (Matthew 10:16).

How does this apply to the father’s role as shepherd? Every father should give his life for his little flock. That is, your wife and children. This doesn’t mean only to the death, but also in denying yourself for the good of your family. History tells us of hard times when many a father gave up his meal so that his family could have more. If your child is thirsty, you would not deny him or her a drink, would you?
But, what about wolves! Jesus teaches that wolves are false teachers and enemies to the flock of God. It is your job to discern false teachings and defend your sheep from these wolves. It is your responsibility to protect your family from those influences that are opposed to God. David can be our example here. Listen to David recount how he fought to save his sheep.

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 1 Samuel 17:34-35 (KJV)

Now David wasn’t fighting a wolf, but a lion and a bear which are much more powerful animals! When the enemy attacked, David took action! He delivered that little lamb out of the beast’s mouth and certain death. Are we, as fathers, on guard for spiritual attacks on our family? Are we ready to take action like David? Are we ready to be a good shepherd like Jesus? It takes preparation and diligence to be a good shepherd over our own little flock. It is a great responsibility that God has given to us.

Let’s now look at the second half of verse 1. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” “To want” means to be destitute or deficient, to be without, or to fall short. Are your children left wanting? How about your wife? There are many things that people want: money, food, clothing, shelter, safety… The list could go on and I’m sure we could all add to this short list of wants.

What makes us to be wanting? It could be our great need for a Savior! If you don’t have Jesus, you are definitely going to fall short. But if we look at our wife and children, do we see them wanting? Maybe you provide for their physical needs, but for some reason they are not satisfied with that. We must admit that it is difficult to be satisfied in today’s world. Every where you turn, the world is screaming at you to want more!

How are you satisfied? It is when you look to the Lord to supply your wants that you will find that you do not want. This will then be passed on to your wife and children as they see your satisfaction and hear you tell of how the Lord God is taking care of you. Praise Him! Give God the glory! God is all-sufficient to provide us what we need.

Verse 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Verse two is always a comfort to me. It is a real help on hectic days to go to the green pasture and the still waters. Think on this as it relates to your family. Is your family life bringing your children to the green pastures that David described? Or, is it an asphalt parking lot on a 100 degree day!

As I thought about the first part of verse 2, I asked myself this question. “Why does he have to make us lie down in the green pastures?” Is it because we don’t know we are there? Do we not lie down because we think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence? Are we desiring something other than what God has for us? I don’t know your specific answer to the question I posed. It is probably different for each one of us. Why does he have to make us?

If the Lord, as the good shepherd, makes us lie down in the green pastures, what should we be doing for our family? Is it the father’s responsibility to pasture his flock? YES! We have had a dry summer here in Iowa. The pastures are not very green, not to mention our lawns. I was told the other day that there is a company that will dye your grass green. Since this summer has been so dry, most lawns are brown and crunchy. Is dying your grass green the solution to a brown and crunchy lawn? It’s not real and it probably doesn’t feel cool and soft on your bare feet. The only way to have a soft, green lawn during a dry hot summer is to water it. Our families need the continual watering of God’s word so we can lie down in green pastures.

What about the still waters? I read once that sheep will only drink from calm streams. If the waters are too fast, they won’t drink! You see sheep are afraid of fast moving water. Also, fast moving rivers are dangerous to sheep. They could fall in, be swept away and drown! What about your children? Do they have still waters from which to drink God’s word? Is there peace in your household, or are you trying to get them to drink from white water rapids?

Notice also that the good shepherd leads his flock to the still waters. He doesn’t drive them there. He leads so they can follow. If you love God’s word, then your children will love it too. I enjoy it when Bible reading becomes contagious in my house. Sometimes, I will be sitting on the sofa reading my Bible and pretty soon, some of my children will want to sit next to me. This is when I encourage them to get their Bible and read it too. I need to do more of this. It is a good thing!

Verse 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you know what it means to have your soul restored. You know what it means to be forgiven when you have done something wrong. It is interesting to look up the meaning of restored. Here are a few quick phrases that describe this word:

• to restore that which is lost,
• to return a specific thing,
• to return a person to a former place,
• to bring back or recover from degeneracy to its former state,
• to heal or cure,
• to make restitution,
• to repair or rebuild,
• to return or bring back after an absence,
• to renew or re-establish after interruption.

It is easy to see how important this word restore is to understanding salvation. How much more it means when you apply it to the tender hearts of your wife and children. Every day you have opportunities to restore the souls of those you love. When someone has done wrong, bring them through the full circle to restoration. There is great freedom in forgiveness.

In the psalm, David says “He restoreth my soul.” The Lord does this because we need to be restored. Every time we stumble and fall, our Lord restores us. As a father, you can probably tell when something is wrong in your child’s soul. You can see it in their eyes or how they hold themselves. What do you do with that? Do you leave them alone to work it out on their own? Or, do you lovingly ask, “What’s wrong?” Do you take the time to sit down, talk, and listen? Or, are you too busy to spend the time that is necessary? We need to invest the time to restore the souls of our family.

Continuing on in verse 3 we read: “he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Once again we can see the Lord leading. Oh how important it is for a father to lead his family! All this is done for the sake of Jesus’ name.

Let’s take a moment and consider what it means to be lead in the paths of righteousness. First, we see that we need God to lead us. In Psalm 119:105 we read: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (KJV) You can think of God’s word as a topographical map. It shows you the paths of righteousness. It also shows you the dangerous paths you are not to take. God’s word will illuminate your path and show you where to go and where not to go. It is up to us to not take a shortcut that seems better when the right trail is clearly marked.

When I was a teenager, I went camping a lot with the Boy Scouts. My friends and I liked to follow deer trails in search of wild berries, rather than staying on the well marked trail. I can remember one particular time when some in our group got separated from us. We spent much of the afternoon looking for each other, eventually ending up at our campsite, in trouble with our leaders. Were we lost? Yes, for a time we were! When I got back to camp, I was pretty hungry and thirsty. We were much more careful after that.

We are told by the prophet Jeremiah: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16, KJV) The Lord speaks through the prophet to “ask for the old paths.” The old paths are the good way. We are to walk in the old paths. There we will find rest for our souls. Notice that we have to ask where the old paths are. Jesus promises us this in Matthew 7:7. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” Directions to the old paths are there, just for the asking!

If you, as a father, will lead your family down the paths of righteousness, they will follow. You can read the Bible as your topographical map. You can use prayer as your compass. You can ask for directions from the Lord Jesus, and He will be faithful to show you “the old paths, where is the good way.” It is then up to you to walk them.

Verse 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

This verse brings a believer particular comfort. We have nothing to fear from death because that time in a believer’s life is a time of great deliverance. Paul put it so perfectly in Phillipians 1:21 (KJV). “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Notice also that we don’t walk through the valley of death, but rather “the valley of the shadow of death.” To have a shadow, you must have light. Who is that light? It is Jesus Christ himself! Jesus has removed the power of death so that only a shadow remains.

It doesn’t take much looking around to see what a dark world we live in. Some of this world, our children see as well. Maybe they see too much of it! A father must stay close to his family and be ever vigilant to protect them. If you aren’t careful here, much harm can come of it.

Thankfully, we have nothing to fear because the Lord is with us. He is our protector from all things evil. Many children live in fear of something. The father, along with his wife, must provide that safe, protected environment for their children. Your children can worry and fret about many things. This can be particularly true at night. It is up to the father and mother to calm those fears and teach from God’s word the truth about this world. Once the light shines on something, the fear goes away as we trust.

The good shepherd’s rod and staff do bring comfort because of the many uses they have. Picture a shepherd’s crook. It is about five feet long or longer and may have a gentle hook at the top. This stick is carried in the hand for support on rough terrain or when you get weary. It can be used as a club for a weapon in fending off dangers. The rod is often used to measure and count. It is an instrument of punishment and a symbol of authority. Sheep can be guided along using the staff.

How do we bring comfort to our family through the rod and the staff? It has a lot to do with safe boundaries and protection. This demonstrates our love to our children. Job 5:17 teaches us: “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.” (KJV) Your position as father gives you the ability to deliver your children from all sorts of trouble. You can guide and instruct them along the way. And yes, discipline them as needed.

Remember that comfort is the goal spoken of here in relation to the rod and the staff. If you look up the word comfort in the dictionary, you will find the following meanings:

• to strengthen,
• to invigorate,
• to cheer or enliven,
• to strengthen the mind when depressed or enfeebled,
• to console,
• to give new vigor to the spirits,
• to cheer or relieve from depression or trouble.

These definitions of the word comfort give us the desired outcome of our discipline and instruction. If you aren’t getting these results, you are doing something wrong! Ask God for help!

Verse 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

As I pointed out in the beginning of this message, we are trying to look at this psalm from the perspective of the father being the shepherd. As we look into verse five and then on to verse six, I believe we are looking at the verses where our children are maturing. They are prepared to serve God all their days and we are getting ready to send them out. I have not done this sending out part yet myself, as my oldest child is sixteen. I may be overstepping my experience, so I pray that I don’t err in this section.

Soldiers are not used to having a table prepared for them. Our troops today are fed using Meals Ready-to-Eat, also known as MREs. The modern day rations are based on technology from the space program. In fact, MREs are vacuum packed so they can last for several years. Soldiers in battle are used to eating on the run. Contrast that with the table prepared for us by the Lord. Rather than grabbing a bite when we can, we can sit down to the table and eat in the midst of our enemies.

Our families need us to provide this table of peace in the midst of all the spiritual battles. We can come together to eat and bless one another. The word can be taught by the father as we all gather together. We need to follow the Lord’s battle plan for dealing with enemies and feeding our troops.

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalm 34:8 (KJV)

We are probably most familiar with the custom of anointing as it pertains to setting a king over Israel. David’s anointing was recorded for us in 1 Samuel 16:11-14.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. (KJV)

The anointing is a setting apart and it is a blessing. It is necessary for the believer to be anointed by the Holy Spirit. Charles Spurgeon speaks to this in The Treasury of David. “Every Christian is a priest, but he cannot execute the priestly office without unction (anointing), and hence we must go day by day to God the Holy Ghost, that we may have our heads anointed with oil. A priest without oil misses the chief qualification for his office, and the Christian priest lacks the chief fitness for service when he is devoid of new grace from on high.” We need God’s anointing to be a good father.

How does this apply to our children? Part of the anointing is a blessing or a sending out. You need to explicitly commend your children into God’s service when they are ready. A young man or young woman needs to know that they have their father’s blessing and support before they go out to serve God. There is a confidence in knowing that you are ready and our children need to have that confidence. It is a sad thing when a child never knows if they are good enough in their father’s eyes. We need to give this to them. It is our job to see that they are prepared.

Let me now give you an illustration of “my cup runneth over.” Suppose you were in the middle of a dessert and all you have with you is a cup. Several friends are traveling with you. The water ran out yesterday and everyone is very thirsty. No relief is in sight. You ask God to save you from certain death. All of a sudden, you cup fills with cool, clear water! Not only that, when the water reaches the top, it overflows. Water is pouring over the edge and your friends start holding their cups under yours to catch the water that overflows.

In a similar way, you can bless your home if your cup runneth over. How do you do it? It comes from God. He fills you up when you are empty. He fills you up when you ask. It is God that will fill you up so much that it overflows into the lives of your family. Those living waters can so fill up your family that it flows out of your home to benefit others. When your children leave home, they need to know this source of living water so their cups will never be empty.

Verse 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

If you have done a good job with God’s help, your children will be well prepared for life. They will know God and love him. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” That can be the legacy you leave with your children. Your wife will be blessed as well. Who wouldn’t want to live all their days enjoying God’s goodness and mercy. This is something we can count on no matter what happens! Remember that God has promised saying, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV)

Finally, “to dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” There can be nothing better than this! Every Christian will be here together in heaven one day. John describes it like this in Revelation 21:1-5.

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

This is what we want our children to desire. This is what we want our children to have. Jonathan Edwards points out that “By virtue of the believer’s union with Christ, he doth really possess all things.” There will be a happy reunion in heaven one day if our children believe. All of these promises are sure because they come from God.

Conclusion

All of Psalm 23 is rich with things to think upon. Spend some time soaking up the wisdom that is in these six short verses. Take a day for each one! Remember, Jesus said, “I am the good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (KJV)

Be a good shepherd/father. I encourage you in Christ.

The Father’s Role as Shepherd

Have you ever tried reading the 23rd Psalm, placing yourself as the shepherd? When you think about it, a father is the shepherd over his family. This is something worth meditating on! Let’s read together through

“The Shepherd’s Psalm.”

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23 (KJV)

What if verse one read: “My daddy is my shepherd; I shall not want.” That paraphrase of the verse makes every line that follows, personal. Of course you can’t take the place of the Lord, but God does give you the responsibility to raise, nurture, instruct, discipline, lead, protect, and guide your children. By homeschooling, you have taken a great step towards raising your children for God.

Verse two is always a comfort to me. It is a real help on hectic days to go to the green pasture and the still waters. Think on this as it relates to your family. Is your homeschool and family life leading your children to the green pastures that David described? Or, is it an asphalt parking lot on a 100 degree day!

What about the still waters? I read once that sheep will only drink from calm streams. If the waters are too fast, they won’t drink! You see sheep are afraid of fast moving water. What about your children? Do they have still waters from which to drink God’s word? Is there peace in your life, or are you trying to get them to drink from white water rapids.

All of Psalm 23 is rich with things to think upon. Spend some time soaking up the wisdom that is in these six short verses. Take a day for each one! Remember, Jesus said, “I am the good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (KJV)

Be a good father/shepherd. I encourage you in Christ.