Father's take Responsibility to Train in the Lord

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”^a

4Fathers,^b do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-4) 

Thoughts: Children are called twice in these verses to listen to their parents and then are motivated with the idea of blessing and long life (taken from the Ten Commandments).  Father are called not to be harsh or exasperating to their children.  The opposite of exasperating and abuse is to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.  This involves grace and love.  So Paul is encouraging children to listen to their fathers especially when they are encouraging children/teens to follow the Lord.  This is not an option.  The secular world will tell you that religion is a choice and a secondary choice at that.  One of the major role as a father is to encourage children in their faith.  

Prayer: Lord, help fathers to take this responsibility seriously.