Why Some Parents Fail - Part 3

Parents Fail because They Are - Not Christ like.
     While there are many parents that name the name of Christ, many of those same parents are missing a Christ like behavior.  As Christians, our lives are to be patterned after the Lord Jesus Christ.  He gave us the pattern to follow, we just need to follow it.
       Many times in the New Testament we see the word "conversation".  This word speaks of one's behavior or lifestyle.  In Ephesians 4:22 we read, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;".  Before a man is saved, his life is filled with corruption on all levels.
  God says that we should put off or get rid of that kind of behavior.  God has not allowed us an option of how we should behave.  He said in Philippians 1:27, "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:".  In other words, our lives should be after a godly sort or appropriately lining up with God's Word. I Peter 1:15 says, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;".
     Not only is our behavior very important to God, it also is important in raising our children.  One thing is for sure, you can't live like the devil and expect your little ones to live for the Lord.  If the only time your children see Christian behavior in you is on Sunday morning, then you are going to have a hard time convincing them the the Christian way in the only way.  If they never hear you speak of the Lord in the home, except to use it in vain, why should they want to follow after Him.  The truth of the matter is that they probably will not.
     You can't expect your children to read their Bible & pray if they have never seen you do it.  They're not going to respect others or forgive others if they don't see it displayed in your life.  You will fail because they simply don't see Christ in you.  The worse thing that you can be is a Christian that doesn't live like one.  You will hurt the name of Christ & the life of your children in a way that only eternity will tell.