The Spiritual Thermostat of the Home

 The Spiritual Thermostat of the Home - Ephesians 6:4

Fathers are called to be the spiritual thermostats of their homes, setting the climate for their families' faith. Ephesians 6:4 gives dads both a warning and a calling: do not provoke your children to anger, and actively bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Provoking children can happen through unrealistic expectations, harsh discipline, constant fault-finding, hypocrisy, or failing to repent when wrong. On the positive side, fathers are called to model the Christian life, take their families to church, and lead their households in worship at home. These responsibilities are ongoing and require a father who is intentional, engaged, and vocal about his faith. Most importantly, a father cannot lead his family spiritually if he is not personally connected to Christ.