Genesis 18:19
"For I have chosen him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. This is how the LORD will fulfill to Abraham what He promised him.”
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 6680
Command: to lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order
From the Hebrew word 'tsavah' (pronounced tsaw-vaw').
To command one's children and household is to set in order and make known what is required and what will be accepted according to the Word which God has given us. There is a right way to do this and a wrong way, as many of us are aware.
The right way is to command in the love of the Lord, to lead by example a godly lifestyle in the eyes of the Lord and the eyes of our children and extended family. It is to be obedient to the Word of God in every aspect of our lives, setting our children up for their success and progress in living godly lives.
When we live in the fear of the Lord faithfully, our children, we hope, will also live in the fear of the Lord. But, and if, we have raised them to love God then even if they take the long way to God, we know that they will return to the Lord as long as we keep praying for them to return.
There is a sequence of command in our households. First, we recognize God as Lord. Second, we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and our minds, and our souls. Thirdly, we honor Him with all that we have and are. Fourthly, we submit to His will for us, for God knows what is best for us, as He is our Heavenly Father, the One who meets the needs of His household, His people.
We recognize God as Lord when we believe that His only begotten Son Jesus Christ the Messiah is Lord of All.
We recognize God as Lord when we believe not only that He Is but that He Is God above all gods and that He is the only God.
We love the Lord our God with all our hearts, when we put Him first in our lives, seeking His will for us, instead of doing whatever we want to do.
We love the Lord our God with all our minds, when we think on His Word, meditate on His Word.
We love the Lord our God with all our souls, when we live for Him: when we live according to His Word: our actions and our words must align with His Word. In love.
We honor God with all that we have when we tithe of our finances and give offerings to build His kingdom.
We honor God with all that we are when we submit to His Word, His Will and His Way willingly and with a joyful heart.
We submit to His will in love, with peace in our hearts and not confusion or doubt; with great expectations of the many blessings He has in store for those who submit to Him.
We are not stingy in giving our time to Him. Time spent not only in study of His Word, but time spent in prayer. This, too, is a part of the command. It is 'communing with God as friend to Friend'. We spend that prayer time with Him not just alone in our special places of prayer, but together as a family, seeking God's face and His presence.
Failure in any aspect of the sequence of the command is to fail on all. Not obeying any part of God's leadership command for our children and our households results in chaos: chaotic lives, chaotic hearts. But when we repent of our failures, our faults, God restores us. And He will restore our children, too. For the promise is not just to us but to our children and our households.
To do what is right and just is to do what is right according to God's Word and live justly before Him in His Way. It's not enough to be a good person. It's not enough to live a peaceful way of life. We must make the decision to do what is right and just that our children and our household may also do what is right and just. Not just living by the example which we have set before them, but living a right and just lifestyle according to the Word which God has laid out before them.
This day and age in which we live is becoming increasingly more difficult in which to maintain a godly lifestyle without having someone come against us for it. Now more than ever, God's people need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might: we need to be filled with His Word, filled with His Spirit and filled with His Love.
For the day is at hand when the decision to live a God-filled life will cause us to be killed for that decision. Joshua told the Israelites, "Choose you this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15).
