Living On Purpose In Christ | Boundaries, Devotions, Positive Affirmations, Bible Study, Christian, Faith, Scripture

71 | Spiritual Legacy: How Parents Shape the Faith of Children

• Paula Behrens | Christian Coach, Pastor, Certified Aroma Freedom Practitioner • Season 2

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Every father and grandfather shapes their children's spiritual understanding through their actions and character, creating a profound legacy that influences how future generations view God.

• Children form their concept of God based on their experiences with their earthly fathers
• Our perfect Heavenly Father models ideal parenting through His perfect love, provision, instruction, example, discipline, inheritance, and blessing
• Striving to embody Christ-like qualities is the greatest gift parents can give their children
• None of us is perfect, but God works through imperfect people to accomplish His purposes
• Children are watching how we live and learning about God through our example

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Paula Behrens:

Have you ever thought about how the actions of fathers and grandfathers shaped the spiritual understanding of their children? Join us as we explore the life of Isaac, a man of profound faith and sincere blessings, and discover how striving to embody Christ-like qualities can transform our relationships within our families. Are you finding it challenging to maintain your spiritual practices or yearning for a more peaceful, God-aligned day? I'm Paula, and I've been there too. Balancing spiritual habits with a busy life can be difficult. I longed for a deeper connection with God but struggled with consistency. Then I found the perfect approach. If you seek simple ways to deepen your connection with God, this podcast is for you. Before we get started, I'd like to give a shout out to Heather Bedard. She writes. Paula has a wonderful way of making difficult concepts seem attainable. She does it all while giving spiritual encouragement and practical steps. It's worth a listen. Well, thank you so much, Heather. If you'd like to leave a review, we'd truly appreciate it. On Apple Podcasts, simply scroll down to the five-star rating section and click on leave a review. If you're using a PC, open the iTunes app and you'll find the link near the top. Share your thoughts with us today and your review could be showcased on one of our upcoming episodes.

Paula Behrens:

When I first began my seminary work while serving two church congregations full-time, everyone assumed I had my daily devotional time perfectly organized. But truth be told, there were mornings I could barely find five minutes to catch my breath, let alone dive into deep reflection. One day, as I rushed out the door with mismatched shoes, I realized that even in my chaos there was a lesson. Embracing God's grace and self-forgiveness I realized that true success in my devotional life requires prioritizing my spiritual practices. Are you ready to infuse your spiritual journey with a peace-filled confidence? I'd like to invite you to prayerfully consider investing just one hour to deepen your faith and nurture your spiritual growth. In your Aroma of Christ coaching hour. You will discover how to craft a personalized devotional routine that will fit perfectly into your busy schedule and learn tried and true strategies to experience your quiet time with God not just as a routine but as a joyful journey. Schedule your call now at paulabehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces). All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in.

Paula Behrens:

I want to kick off today's show by celebrating all the incredible fathers out there and their special day that's coming up really soon. And here's a little note of encouragement for all of us who parent children. If your kiddos have ever been out of control, you can take comfort in knowing that God had problems with his children too. You see, after creating the heavens and earth, God created Adam and Eve, and the first thing he said was don't. Don't what, Adam replied. Don't eat the forbidden fruit, God said. Forbidden fruit? We got forbidden fruit? Hey, Eve, we got forbidden fruit. No way, yes way. Don't eat that fruit, God said. Why? Adam asked. Wondering why he hadn't stopped after creating the plants God said, because I am your father and I said so. A few months later, God saw his kids having a fruit break and he was angry. Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit? He asked. Uh-huh, Adam said. But she started it. Did not. Did too, did not. Having had it with the two of them, God decided that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern continues even today.

Paula Behrens:

While searching through the scriptures for a perfect Father's Day passage, I came to realize that there is not a human father in the Bible that is without some kind of fault. And then I thought well, that's okay, because no parents in real life are perfect. We all have our little quirks and weaknesses, especially when it comes to raising kids, and so I stopped looking for the perfect story and I chose the story of Isaac. Now, there are several things about the character of Isaac that I would like to point out. First, Isaac is a man of faith. Even before his children were conceived, we hear that he prays to the Lord for his wife, who is barren, and she then conceives not one, but two babies. She has twins, Esau and Jacob. Second, Isaac is a religious man. For example, when he needs help, he knows where to find the true source as we see him building an altar to the Lord and calling on the name of God. Isaac witnesses to his inward faith with an outward sign of worship. But, most importantly, Isaac recognizes the importance of bestowing God's blessings upon his children. We see that in his blessing of Jacob. And even though his intention was to bless his firstborn Esau and he was tricked into blessing second born Jacob, his blessing is sincere and he firmly believes that once a blessing from God is given, it will be fulfilled. So as we take a look into Jacob's life, the second born of Isaac, I think that we will be able to identify some of the seeds that this father planted in the heart of his son. The story goes like this. Despite Isaac's faithfulness to God, Jacob manages to live up to his name, which means trickster.

Paula Behrens:

He barters for his brother's birthright and then steals his brother's blessing, and so he has to flee from his father's house because Esau, his brother, wants to kill him. At that time, Isaac blesses his second born again, and with that Jacob sets out on his journey. He leaves with nothing but the clothes on his back, a bartered birthright and a stolen blessing. As he journeys through the desert, exhausted, he falls asleep and dreams of angels ascending and descending from heaven, and receives another blessing, this time directly from God. Jacob then rises up early in the morning and, like his father, he too builds an altar to God, calling the place Bethel, which means the house of God. Jacob does find a wife at his uncle's place. In fact, he ends up with two wives, and after 20 years of hard labor, Jacob returns to his homeland.

Paula Behrens:

He rises up once again, but this time it's during the night. And instead of a dream, a vision of angels and a blessing, Jacob is confronted by a stranger who wrestles with him all night in a place that he finally calls the face of God. Two times now, Jacob has recognized the presence of God with him and has shown the same faith that was in his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham. And this time Jacob receives not only a blessing, but also a new name, Israel. The angel says to him, your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name, for you have prevailed with God and shall be mighty with men. Now the Hebrew word here for prevail can also be translated as one who is whole. The prayers of Jacob's father have been answered, as Jacob is finally made whole through a right relationship with his Lord. Jacob has now been given a second chance to be much more than he has ever been before. The sun has risen on Jacob's life and the healing process has begun. Jacob is a changed man. He is a man who will go forward for God because he too, like his father, now believes in God's promises.

Paula Behrens:

God is faithful to work through people like Jacob the trickster son, his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham. God works through all of them, even though none of them is perfect. But let's think about this for a moment. What is the most important thing about this father? Well, let me share another story with you. It was a little four-year-old boy who once asked, is God like daddy? He had just come from church where he had learned about God, our Heavenly Father. Now, sound theology would quickly note that God is neither male nor female, but children don't concern themselves with things like that. When a four-year-old hears father, the only father he knows anything about is the one who lives with him day in and day out. So he asks, is God like daddy? Wow, have you ever considered the fact that fathers and grandfathers have a great impact on what their children might think about God? Maybe the greatest gift a father can give to his son or daughter is that of striving to be more and more like Christ.

Paula Behrens:

Now, I know, and you know, that none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes as we go through life. We all fall short of what God intends for us, but we can strive to be more and more like Christ in our daily life, with our children. Even so, the only perfect person is Jesus Christ, who had the only perfect Father, God, who is also our perfect Heavenly Father. So let's talk about God and the things he models for us.

Paula Behrens:

First, God loves us with a perfect love. In fact, he is the initiator of love. First John 3 says, see what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are. We are God's children, now. What we will be has not yet been revealed, but when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. When you place your faith in Jesus, his Heavenly Father becomes your Father. We have a perfect Heavenly Father who loves us tremendously, and one day we will see him face to face and, as the scriptures tell us, we will be like him.

Paula Behrens:

Second, God is a great provider. Jesus said to his disciples, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. We don't have to worry about food, clothing or shelter. If we are listening for and following his guidance, putting God first in all that we do, he will always take care of us. God is a great provider. Our perfect Heavenly Father knows how to supply our every need. He is the greatest gift giver of all.

Paula Behrens:

Third, God gives us instructions and teaches us the things we need to know. He has given us his Word to guide and direct us. In 2 Timothy we hear that all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient and equipped for every good work. God provides his Word, his instructions, so that we might be equipped for every good work. That's amazing.

Paula Behrens:

Fourth, God provides a good example for us. As long as we follow Jesus' leadership and example, we will not go astray. Following Jesus, God the Son, is the key. He is our example.

Paula Behrens:

Fifth, God disciplines us. Hebrews 12 says, God is treating you as children. For what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. Our human parents disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Hopefully we can learn as God corrects us and then, with joy, reap the peaceful fruit of righteousness that comes through obedience to him.

Paula Behrens:

Six, God provides for our future. Speaking to the Christians in Rome, the Apostle Paul, says for you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry Abba, father, it is that very spirit bearing witness, with our spirit, that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. God has made us his heirs. We are joint heirs with Christ. The sharing in his suffering is only temporary, but the sharing in his glory will be blissfully eternal. And finally, our perfect Heavenly Father is the one who bestows upon us the blessing of all blessings, as we are adopted into his family through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ, and thus receive the eternal gift of salvation. So, no matter who you are or what your earthly father was like, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then you too can celebrate this day by reflecting upon the blessing of all blessings that God offers.

Paula Behrens:

Don't forget to tell your Heavenly Father how much you love Him today, and don't forget to thank Him for all that he has done and all that he will continue to do in your life and in your family. But, most importantly, don't forget that there are children who look up to you. W hether you are a father, mother, uncle, aunt or maybe even an older sibling, they look up to you for the model of what their Heavenly Father might be like. And because of that heavy load, I hope that you will always remember to ask God to help you every day in modeling your life after the life of Jesus Christ, who modeled his life after his perfect Heavenly Father.

Paula Behrens:

Let us pray: Almighty God, we bow before You in honor of Jesus Christ who, for our sake, became one of us, that we might become one with You. Through Him, Your word comes to us, claiming us as Your children, directing us to Your kingdom work, humbling us in our strength and consoling us in our weaknesses. Thanks to Jesus, we are affirmed as Your children, and with that privilege comes family responsibilities. Let us be worthy of those responsibilities and, through all of it, give us a pure and holy passion to become more and more like Christ. Help each and every one of us to take seriously the covenant we made when we gave our lives over to Him. As members of Your family let us be used for Your purposes. As John Wesley once prayed, I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal, let us be used for Your purposes, this day and every day. In the precious and Holy name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we ask these things. Amen.

Paula Behrens:

Thank you for tuning in today and remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you've enjoyed this episode, we would truly appreciate it if you would take just a few moments to follow the show and leave a review. Also, prayerfully, consider investing just one hour to deepen your faith and nurture your spiritual growth. In your Aroma of Christ coaching hour, you will discover how to craft a personalized devotional routine that will fit perfectly into your busy schedule, incorporate essential oils into your spiritual practices, create an easy-to-follow tracking plan for consistency, and learn tried-and-true strategies to experience your quiet time with God not just as a routine but as a joyful journey. Schedule your call now at paulabehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces). Be sure to check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and walking in His wisdom. See you next time.