A Loving Father
Any father who loves his sons or daughters will teach them how to respect and obey him. He will teach them not to lie or steal or swear. He will teach them how to control their tempers and how to share what they have with others. He will teach them good manners and how to practice moderation in all things. He will teach them to be thankful for what they have and how to take care of those things.
A loving father will teach his children to respect the elderly, the lame and the blind, and how to serve them in love and respect whenever possible (Job 29:12-16). He will teach them not to think that they are better than others, but to help others in need (Matt. 25:33-40; Luke 14:13). He will teach them to live a good life by doing good and to live a pure life with a pure heart, always doing God’s Will (Psalm 125:4; 103:21; 106:3; James 2:14-26).
Children, if brought up correctly, should live their lives to please their fathers. They will never bring reproach or disrespect on their parents as long as they live (Eph. 6:1-3).
Our heavenly Father wants the same respect and honor from us (Mal. 1:6). He wants adults to practice these same godly principles. He wants us to repent from a life of doing wrong and sin, and come into a life of doing right by practicing righteousness (1 John 3:7, 10). This is what is expected of those who repent. This is how to repent! This is the repentant life a true disciple of Jesus Christ lives daily, glorifying God with good works (Matt. 5:16). This is the Way of righteousness that Jesus came to show us (Matt. 21:32; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Acts 18:25-26; 19:9, 23; 22:4).
The Bible asks, "Those who teach others not to steal, do you steal?" We cannot teach our children to be decent unless we become decent adults first. We need to clean up our lives first by making up our minds not to practice things that do not please our heavenly Father. Then begin to diligently teach these godly principles to our children (Luke 1:17).
God wishes to be worshiped in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24; Rom. 12:1). He expects us to practice the truth taught in His word in our daily lives (John 8:51; 3:21; James 1:22).
In the near future, the Lord is going to punish the inhabitants of this earth with horrible chastisement (Jude 14-16; Is. 24:3-6). Now is the time to prepare so you will be ready to meet the Lord when He comes (Luke 1:17). Remember, without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14, King James Version).
Will you repent by living the rest of your life to please your heavenly Father in Christ’s name (Col. 3:17)? Will you repent by engaging in a life of continually doing good, as Christ gave you example to do (Titus 3:8)? If you do, the blood of Jesus Christ will be applied to you, and your sins - past, present and future - will not be held against you (1 John 1:6-7, 9; 1 Peter 1:2). This is the truth.