Daddy’s Charge
July 23
So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of
the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the
commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good
land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
1 Chronicles 28:8
As they circled the dance floor, he held her close. His little girl had grown too
fast. He felt so blessed, so proud of who she had become. He was feeling the
separation that comes when our children come of age. Beautiful beyond words,
she smiled a tear-filled smile, Daddy’s girl all the way! The dance ended too
soon. Roles had changed in less than an hour. He had gone from provider and
protector to sometimes advisor and prayerful encourager—advisor only when
solicited.
He thought back to the ceremony when he’d charged his new son, “Today,
I present to you my daughter. I charge you with the nurturing love of a mother
and the fearless protection of a father. May you be strong when necessary and
gentle in times of tears. And may God bless this union.”
Back in the present, he thought, Funny how life screams by at light-speed
when it involves our children. He caught his wife’s knowing smile over the
crowd. He was pretty sure she was saying, “Now you know how my dad felt.”
He had a new perspective.
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Responsibility brings with it promise. In this text’s pronouncement, Israel, if
they followed God’s commands, would inherit the land set aside for them for
all generations.
We are to not only follow God’s commands, but to faithfully instruct our
offspring. They are to be nurtured, able to leave us, moving into the next season
of their lives. We are charged with calling them to accountability.
As with the father in this story, we are to charge those who inherit the
care of those entrusted to us. We are not to do this with ambiguity. We are to
actively speak truth of responsibility to the next generation.
Prayer
“You charge us this day, to follow Your commands, Lord.
Teach us to be faithful in response to that responsibility
as we follow Your leading. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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