The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Like Father, Like Son

If you’re a dad, have you ever listened to your kids and thought, Oh man, that sounds just like me. Why did the kids have to copy that trait? Often, it seems that our children exhibit the very qualities we dislike most about ourselves. Negative behaviors easily transfer from us to our children. Kids typically seem to possess a strong dose of their parents—for better or for worse.

Are you the kind of father who wants to show your children the right way when it comes to matters of faith? Unfortunately, there is no secret formula to passing down a solid spiritual heritage to your children. They ultimately have to grab hold of faith on their own terms and in their own time. Or fall flat. Sometimes both.

While David stands among the great examples of dads found in Scripture, he certainly wasn’t perfect. He failed often as a king, as a man of God and as a father. He sinned in much the same way he served—with boldness and a wild heart. Yet in some glorious moments David got things right! That’s what his son Solomon wanted for himself.

When you lead your children along paths of faith, you want them to follow. Further, you hope that they will even discover how to push past your mistakes. However, none of that will happen if you keep quiet about what you believe. If you want your children to make decisions with godly faith in mind, you first need to speak boldly about where you stand.

In addition to talking about your faith, show your children how to serve their Maker joyfully. That involves staying close to the Lord yourself, and it requires put ting both your heart and your shoulder into everything you do.

God honors his promises and vows to remain faithful to his true servants. You and your children can be part of God’s big, bold plan. Model for your kids what it means to live a life of hope and love; teach them the value of putting God first; and pass to them the brightly burning torch of faith.

Taken from the NIV Men’s Devotional Bible.