The house was set up with all the new technology. The media bundle available opened the door to hundreds of channels and Internet with his cell phone service provider. Several big screens were set up throughout the house to view everything from Netflix to popular sitcoms, to HBO to tremendously advanced video games. One weekend, the dad got a lot of pushback when he wanted the whole family to go camping at a state park. The kids, left to their own devices, preferred staying home and playing games.

In the Dad’s Armor study, a standard is presented for what the house of a father is expected to look like. There is discipline of self for right priorities, scrutiny of what is allowed to come into the house via satellite, cable, Internet and its plethora of Apps, and leadership in love through the daily example of healthy relationship in marriage and family.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity or of greed. – Ephesians 5:3. Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction. – Deuteronomy 7:26. Sexual immorality can show up in many forms – lustful thoughts, titillating pictures in sports magazines and various social media, pornography or flirtatious relationships outside of marriage. All these temptations pound on the door of the mind and home 24/7 if allowed. In His words to Cain, God warned, “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Men and women succumbing to sexual immorality before and during marriage is at the core of marriage failing 40% to 50% of the time. This introduces tremendous confusion among the next generation around what healthy relationships are all about. The charge is to “rule over it”, to “not bring a detestable thing into your house.” It is to be utterly abhorred and detested. Set the standard in house and lead by example.

The dad and mom reviewed their own priorities around family time in the home. They decided to cancel the media bundle, take down two of the three screens and scrutinize what was coming into the house more closely. A family discussion time was initiated a few nights a week after dinner where any question the kids wanted to ask was fair game. The questions around sexuality and relationships alerted the parents to the impact of the outside influences that had been allowed into the home. Their effort to get more engaged physically, emotionally and spiritually in family opened the door to discussions that helped keep minor issues minor and flushed major issues out in a healthy way.

Prayer guide: Lord, thank You for Your timeless Word. I confess I have allowed technology to take over my home. I have granted various media such a presence that access to anything at any time has become intoxicating. My priorities have been compromised. Forgive me. Help me set a new standard in the home that glorifies You. Equip me to lead by example in living my relationship with You in marriage and reflecting right priorities in family. Strengthen me to be the dad You call me to be, a faithful father in the house You have blessed me with. Amen.

A faithful father sets the standard in house and leads by example.