“Hear my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.” – Proverbs 1:8 

Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Yesterday, the topic was nations; today, it is on the building block of nations: the family. Look at the focus of Deuteronomy 6 where it is commanded that the family spends its time and energy teaching the children of the household to know the LORD. When you walk, you point out the beauty of creation and the power of God. When you return home, you point out the security of your home, and your heart is entrusted to God the Father. When you celebrate, you remind your children that God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt and set them free.

As New Testament Christians this lesson is vital. With the same attention to constancy and persistence, take every opportunity to teach your children about the manifold love of God demonstrated in Jesus. The sublime act of salvation in the Old Testament was the Exodus, Moses leading the people out of Egypt foreshadowed Jesus, who leads His people out of the Egypt of sin, into the Promised Land. As we follow Him, we are blessed, being adopted as sons and daughters of God. As we travel, Jesus the Prince of peace, protects and guards His people by the Spirit.

Dads, are you feeding your own soul, so that you can teach your children? Dads, are you so focused on knowing Jesus that from the overflow of your heart you can’t help but speak of Him, your Deliverer? It doesn’t matter if your children are ten years old or forty, married or single; you need to be a godly leader.

Suggestions for prayer

Confess the times and ways in which you, dads, have neglected your duty of being a spiritual leader in your household; pray to be reinvigorated in the joy of the Lord, and share this gift of salvation starting at home and going out from there.

For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.