(Gen 1:28) And God blessed them; and God said to them, "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

It was never God's intent that the husband and wife simply breed. It is His will that homes be established that produce a godly seed. To illustrate this consider Abraham. Before God told him why He was going to Sodom He mused with Himself saying:

(Gen 18:17-19) "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? For I have chosen him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice; in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him."

Notice what God expected of the patriarch regarding his family: "that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice." Did God give such a responsibility only to Abraham? Does He not expect all of His people - especially the dads, to act this way with regard to their children and household?

Later, after God had given His laws to Israel, He told the adults, "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart" (Deu 6:6). Then He went on to say that they were to make sure that their children had them on their hearts too.

(Deu 6:7) and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

It has always been the task of parents to raise a godly seed; this will not happen by accident. In the New Testament the instruction given to parents - especially fathers - is: "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Eph 6:4). Parents, this will not be done if you don't spend time speaking to your children - on a daily basis - about God: repeating to them His word and seeing to it that they practice it. Sometimes I hear the complaint: Must everything center on spirituality? Yes, it must! There is no other way to raise children; there is no other way to conduct the affairs of your household - at least not if you want to comply with God's will in this matter.

Romans 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in theirknowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Colossians 3:20-21 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

I Timothy 5:1-4 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.