TEACHING BY EXAMPLE - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2026

Our Daily Bread - Saturday, June 19, 2016
by RBC Ministries

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TEACHING BY EXAMPLE

READ:

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
-Ephesians 6:4

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Nehemiah 12-13
Acts 4:23-27

While waiting for an eye examination, I was struck by a statement I saw in the optometrist's office: "Eighty percent of everything children learn in their first 12 years is through their eyes." I began thinking of all that children visually process through reading, television, film, events, surroundings, and observing the behaviour of others, especially their families.
Fathers can have an especially powerful influence on their children. Paul urged fathers not to frustrate them to the point of anger, but to "bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). Think of the powerful example of a dad whose behaviour and consistency inspire admiration from his children. He's not perfect, but he's moving in the right direction. A great power for good is at work when our actions reflect the character of God rather than distort it.
That's challenging for any parent, so it's no coincidence that Paul urges us to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (v.10). Only through His strength can we reflect the love and patience of our heavenly Father.
We teach our children far more from how we live than by what we say. - David McCasland
Heavenly Father, I need to know Your love in order to love others. I want to experience and share Your patience and kindness with those I care about. Fill me and use me.

We honour fathers who not only gave us life, but who also showed us how to live.

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