WE ARE GATEKEEPERS
By Isaac's Family Coaches
April 27, 2021
Children are fun of giving names to their parents especially fathers who are tough disciplinarians. They do not have a clear understanding of why parents, are obsessed with their safety and wellbeing. That’s natural. Raising children in a safe environment is one of the purposes of parenting. Children are naturally vulnerable. They can’t care for or protect themselves until they get older, so it is the duty of parents to care and protect them. This aspect of parenting is like Gatekeeping. As a father or mother, you are the gatekeeper of your home and your children’s lives. In other words, everything that enters your home is something you allow. All the devil needs is a careless gatekeeper to corrupt a child’s life. All he needs is one parent who doesn’t understand they are responsible for guarding the gates of the family. There are several gateways that allow problems and sin to enter your family. Keeping your family safe means monitoring those gates. Let’s consider the following truth in regard to some of these gateways in a child’s life that parents must diligently watch over:
Firstly, THE GOD GATEWAY. Your first responsibility as a parent is to lead your child to God. Your duty is to help your son or daughter understand Who God is. His love and His truth in His word the Bible as the final Authority at the earliest age possible. I believe watching over the God gateway makes every parent an evangelist; bringing their children to Christ and discipling them in the Christian faith. taking them to church, reading the Bible with them, and praying with them. Nothing is more important than this. Proverbs 1:7
Secondly, THE EDUCATION GATEWAY. Parents are responsible for educating their children. It’s not just the school’s job or teachers’ jobs. You need to be involved in your child’s education beyond just knowing where they go to school. I believe watching over the education gateway makes every parent a shepherd/pastor who knows the best pasture for his flock as design by God. Do you know what they’re being taught? Do you know if they’re turning in their assignments? Do you know what they’re reading in class? Don’t just assume that everything they hear in class is good for them. You are the gatekeeper of your child’s education, and you don’t have to let anything come through those gates without permission. Proverbs 22:6. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Thirdly; THE ATTITUDE/FRIEND GATEWAY. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Evil company corrupts good habits.” It is said that “Attitude is the seedbed of behavior”. You can raise the most moral child, but a bad friend can still corrupt your child. Who are your children’s friends? What do you know about them and their parents? What is their belief? Do your children’s friends have smartphones? How much do their parents monitor their online activity? These are all questions you need to be asking all the time. I believe watching over the attitude/friend gateway makes every parent an overseer/mentor for helping the child build the right relationships with others and making sure they exhibit good attitudes. God rewards good attitudes, and so should parents. But He also disciplines bad attitudes. James 4 says “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Both of those are attitudes.
As parents, God has given us authority over our lives and over our families. We are responsible for building safe, spiritual and edifying family environments. Are you keeping watch over the gates into your children’s lives?
God wants us to be in the right relationship with him, so that we may bring up godly upspring for his glory. Grace of our Lord be with us. Amen,
Rev. Isaac G. Y Bangalu Founder & CE
Couples & Singles Network for Christ Initiative
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