For I Know Him...

This morning I was reading Genesis chapter 18. Verse 19 is one that has always stuck out to me. Here is what Spencer W. Kimball said about this verse:

Abraham’s desire to do God’s will in all things led him to preside over his family in righteousness. Despite all his other responsibilities, he knew that if he failed to teach and exemplify the gospel to his children he would have failed to fulfill the most important stewardship he had received. Abraham’s instruction and example in his home led the Lord to say of him: “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.” (Gen. 18:19.) As we are told in the pamphlet Father, Consider Your Ways.

This is what most of the talks about this scripture discusses... the righteous family. Which is very important and is an awesome part of this verse but the part that sticks out to me the most and impresses me the most are the first four words, "For I know him." Remember, the Lord is speaking to the three messengers who went to visit Abraham and the Lord says, "For I know him" referring to Abraham. I love that. The Lord knows Abraham and knows what he's capable of. This gives the rest of the scripture so much more power. We can change it and make it first person and say,

"For the Lord knows me, that I will command my children and my household, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement; that the Lord may bring upon me that which he hath spoken."

It makes raising my children the correct way that much more important. What a powerful scripture! I hope and pray daily that I live worthily of the Lord's expectations of me and raise my children in the ways He knows I am capable of doing.