There is nothing more, as men, that we would like to do after a hard day’s work
then to sit back and relax for a bit. We would like to pretend that there is nothing else
needing our attention, but the reality is that is not the case. You see, we are soldiers in
the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. We fathers must understand that we are also the
general, drill sergeant, and command staff of our own army, right there in our home.
We would like nothing more than to take our armor off, after a long day of being
in the world but not “of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:10). After all, our homes are a “safe
place,” as if to say that the physical walls that separate our dwelling from the world is
the only qualification. This may work in a physical sense, but spiritually speaking, our
homes will not become fortresses for God by accident. It will require intentionally and
consciously doing things that will protect our families from the forces of evil that seek to
destroy it.
The condition of our heart will affect our ability to prepare our families for war.
The prophet Ezra, in Ezra 7:10, is described as one who “prepared his heart to seek the
law of the Lord.” This would allow Ezra to both learn the necessary truths, from God,
that would make him a better person, and the responsibility to teach those same truths
to the people. Now, like Ezra, the preparation of our heart does not happen miraculously
or overnight. It is a direct result of allowing God to work continually on our heart. Paul
would emphasize this to the Philippian brethren in Philippians 1:1-6. Notice also the
words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:13, “For this cause thank we God without ceasing,
because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as
the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in
you that believe.” The word of God continues to work on the heart of the believer! It is
this kind of working on our heart’s that takes us from a man of sin to a child of God,
(Romans 1:16-17; 6:17).
To help us understand this idea of preparing our heart, consider for a moment the
words of Jesus, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew
6:21). The context of this statement is Jesus teaching the people that they must be fully
committed to Him. There is no straddling the fence, no Sunday Christian and living to
yourself the rest of the week. We understand this for our own personal spirituality.
Switch gears for a moment and let us consider our family as our treasure. If we want to
keep our families from being moth-eaten and becoming rusty, spiritually, then there are
steps we must take. This is all involved in the preparation of our heart.
We also need to understand the difference in the world’s view of the family
verses God’s view of the family. The world depicts men, in general, and specifically
fathers, as weak, ignorant, and good for nothing. The one who brings the most trouble to
the household is the father. Either there is not enough money, or he is lazy. The world sees women and mothers as the only one with a brain, the disciplinarian, authoritative
presence, and at times the real “bread winner.” Finally, children are portrayed as know-
it-alls who do not need nor want insight, instruction, and especially correction from their
parents. Yet, this is not God’s depiction of the family at all. Men are to be the leaders of
the family, strong and courageous, dignified, and full of integrity. Christian women
should not be taking their ques from society in matters of marriage or being a mother.
Our children should not be left to raise themselves on social media and YouTube.
We must, as parents, be influencers in the lives of our children. There are five
areas where we can have an influence, in a positive way, in our families. 1) By What We
Say! Jesus warns us that we will give an account of every idle word we say, and what we
say is really a revelation of what is in our heart (Matthew 12:34-37). Paul would write,
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the
use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). 2) By
What We Do! Again, to the Philippians, Paul writes: “Only let your manner of life be
worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may
hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of
the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). We must do what is right, knowing that our “labor is not in
vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthains 15:58). 3) By How We Love! We cannot choose who to
love and who not to love. Jesus would say, “A new commandment I give unto you, that
you love one another; as I have loved you..." (John 13:34-35). No longer are we to “love
our neighbor as ourselves” (Mark 12:31), but as Jesus loved us. 4) By Our Faith!
Without the proper application of faith, it is “impossible to please him [God-NC]…” (Hebrews
11:6). Faith is shown by the works we produce (James 2:18). 5) How Holy We Are! This
is not to pat ourselves on the back and show everyone else that we are “holier than they
are,” rather humble ourselves to the Divine directive to be holy, “as I am holy” (1 Peter
1:16) we were chosen to be holy before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).
Jesus prayed for holiness (John 17:17-23).
Prepare for war, brethren, Ephesians 6:13!
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