John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does( NLT)
A MODEL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
I have a story to share along this line. My little daughter always demand attention. On a certain day, I wanted to do something that will require I leave her out, so I began to think on how to go about it.
In a playful mood, my first son said, "daddy, use scope for her". Now, that struck a deep chord in me because "scope" in that context meant lying. Quickly, the Spirit of God pointed my attention to the several times I have used "scope" to excuse myself from their demands. He picked that from me.
Quickly, I told him we won't "scope" her. We'll just tell the plain truth and leave it as it is. I don't want him to see "scope" as a way of life or a normal thing. It is a sin. Since that day, no more "scoping" in my house. I corrected my failure quickly.
You see, all the while, I thought those lies meant nothing since there were lies adults tell to free themselves from the demands of children. A vivid example is making promises you won't fulfill just to satisfy the curiosity of the children. Actually, most parents do this but it is wrong.
If we'll raise a righteous generation, we, fathers, must model it to them. I believe in theory of learned behaviour. This learning theory states that behaviours are learned from the environment, and says that innate or inherited factors have very little influence on behaviour (www.wgu.edu,2020).
Most of the things we do were learnt. Someone modeled it to us. We picked certain behaviours from our immediate environment because we saw someone do it.
Children are one of the best imitators around. They learn not only by instructions but by imitating those they see as models. This may not materialize on time but whatever they see their models do seat deeply in their sub conscious mind and they exhibit those things latter in life.
Even Jesus as a son, he imitated his father in heaven. He said in John 5:19, “..I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing...*". What were the things he saw his father doing? Righteousness. How did I know?
Speaking about God the father, Psalm89:14 says, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you".
In Hebrews 1:9, It was said of Jesus that he loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God the father, his God, has set him above his companions by anointing him with the oil of joy. How would he have loved.righteousness If he hadn't seen his father doing righteousness?
Fathers, we have to be models of right living If we want our children to be practitioners of righteousness. Don't forget that God the father is the model of righteousness for all fathers.
Father, I will not fail in modeling righteousness to the next generation in Jesus name.