"Family Matters"
By Paul Kendall

Priest of the Home

I’d like to speak especially to those of you who are priests. No, I don’t mean those of you wearing a clerical collar – I mean every father reading. You may be thinking; “Me? - a priest?… I don’t think so.”  Well, before you disqualify yourself, let’s take a quick look at whom God identifies as a “Priest”.

1 Peter 2:4 says that you are “…chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood…”

1 Peter 2:9 “…you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood…”

Dad’s, whether you realize it or not, you are the priest of your home. You’re responsible for the SPIRITUAL WELLBEING of your family. When the moral fiber of your children comes into question… the buck stops with you. Leaving the teaching of morality and Christian values up to someone else to teach your children is far to dangerous. Gone are the days when schools taught Christian values. If they’re going to be taught these important values, Dad, it’s going to be by you. Childhood is training time for work and living in the real world. 

Even if our children are involved in the church children's ministry, good spiritual habits begin at home. Your children should see you praying and reading the Bible. If you provide them with quality devotional materials and teach them to be quiet on the inside, they will have a firm spiritual life foundation. Parents must first have clarification about their own beliefs and be grounded in the Bible. Then they must have the courage to let their children see those beliefs lived out every day.

It’s safe to say that fathers have more influence over their children than any other person they come in contact with. Their future greatly depends on your ability to guide them spiritually. I’ve had several pastors over the years but none compare to the impact my father has had on my life. He was not a Bible scholar but he did see to that we were all in church every week. He reinforced what we learned there and no doubt got most of his own understanding at the same time. The end result for him was four children who all grew up to become ministers. 

It’s also interesting to know that those four kids produced ten grandkids who are all involved in Christian service. All of us, kids and grandkids, owe a great deal of our Christian values to one man who made the decision to become the priest of his home. What would life have been like without church and a father who would get us there? I don’t even want to know. 

There are literally hundreds of churches in your community. And there is one that your family can call home. Dad’s, I hope you’ll get your family there this week. There’s no better time to start than now.  Don’t worry about not being able to quote scripture and the fact that you thought the “Prophets” were a singing group from the 70’s… get your family in a good church and begin to reinforce God’s Word in your everyday life. There’s no better way to become… the priest of your home.

That's Family Matters... I'm Paul Kendall.

Paul Kendall is the host of the popular syndicated radio program "Family Matters" and author of a new book by the same name. Radio programs, family resources and much more are available at www.KendallFamilyNetwork.com.