How My Wife Helped Me Man-up & Lead Family Devo’s

Parents are responsible for the children’s instruction in the Word of God. If we strictly look at the methodology in these verses, this is what we find:

-Genesis 18:19-> Abraham was chosen “that he should command” his children and household. The express method is not clearly defined, but is alluded to in the word “command.” The result of that commanding is righteousness in the household. That is, he was to expressly command (which assumes verbal instruction in some form) his children so that they would learn righteousness , i.e. keep the way of the Lord.

-Exodus 12:23-27 -> the Passover was to be a ritual that a man and his family celebrate annually. Witnessing that event, a child might ask questions. God instructs Moses how to instruct the fathers in the congregation how to respond. This is at some point after the ritual. The methodology here is not expressly mentioned, but is stimulated by the observation of worship during Passover. Worship attendance is a recurring method in the OT that appears to have carried into the NT.

-Dt.6:4-7 -> Here, a clear methodology is given. That methodology is manifold. Verse 7 says to “teach” (actually it is to “repeat over and over”) and the context of that repetition of the commands of God is given as topic of discussion when you sit, walk, lie down or rise up. That pretty much covers every moment of the day. The method here is verbally repeating the information heard from Moses. But, the point is to do it all the time.

-Ps. 78:4-8 -> The methodology here is not given either. However, the instructions are the same. Cause your children to “know” the Law of Israel. The only clear way of depositing the Law in the children is by verbal teaching accompanied by expectation to obedience (“keep his commandments”-v.7b).

Proverbs -> These also seem to indicate the need to teach by way of verbal communication. The methodology is defined by the idea of teaching. But, the point is that the father is successful in teaching the children. This reality is overwhelming in Proverbs.

So, as I look at this, this is what I see. The responsibility of the instruction falls upon fathers. Mothers also have the task for teaching, but fathers have a particular role in even that. I even believe this is the pattern in the garden when Adam was entrusted with the command of God to eat whatever is wanted, but do not eat from the tree of the knoweldge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17; cf. 1 Timothy 2:13). The question then would be, “Since the Bible does give the command to repeat, instruct, command, teach, by way of verbal communication in an ongoing, repetitious manner as a result of worship observation, as well as other avenues, how can we accomplish this?” You can say, “We do it as we can.” But that is not deliberate enough. This is a command of God. Or, one can say, “We prefer lifestyle discipleship.” But that is spotty at best and oftentimes is an excuse for lack of actually instructing the family. Thus, I think it is wise, in order to accomplish the above, which is summarized in Ephesians 6:4 and somewhat repeated in Colossians 3:21 is to have a specific time when, as a family, they read the Word of God and the husband/father explain the text. This will require of him preparation. But that is, I believe, part of what God is after in the process.

The above verses are samplings. But, this expectation has never been revoked, and is the stuff of managing a home well (1 Timothy 3:4-5).
Finally, since this is a serious problem in most churches, I would jump at the opportunity to see how other men fulfill this responsibility in their homes and begin to imitate that until you get your own patterns and ways of doing it. But the point is, start instructing your family!