PARENTS AND CHILDREN
Kimberly Lawrence
Today's Scripture: “‘Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’” Ephesians 6:2-3, ESV
Theme: Obey and appreciate your parents because you are obedient to God first.
CHILDREN
I love my children. I have loved them enough to nurture, teach, and even discipline them every day of their lives. Like most parents, I want nothing more than for them to live long, healthy, and fulfilled lives. When they experience pain or disappointment, I can literally feel it in my own body. The love for a child is so strong, it can elicit a physical reaction in a parent. I recall watching my young son sledding down a hill, directly into a parked vehicle. Although my body wasn’t physically involved, I immediately went hot and flushed over the fear and pain he experienced. It was like he was still connected to my body!
It’s hard to imagine anyone in the world loving my children more than I do. Yet, as a mature adult, it’s easy to forget that I, too, am someone’s “baby” and that the same love I have for my children, my own parents have for me. The parent/child relationship is God given. It replicates the relationship and connection which God, our Father, has with us. And just as we are called to honor our heavenly Father, He calls us to honor those He chose to carry out His plan for our existence. We must care for those who first cared for us.
GOD’S PLAN
When God delivered His people from Egypt, He gave Moses the Ten Commandments. It’s hard to believe He could boil it down to just ten! I doubt God randomly rattled them off to Moses, without thought about priority. Could Moses have possibly gotten them out of order? Also, unlikely. The first five commandments reflect our obligations to God while the last five instruct us regarding our relationships with others. We don’t get to pick and choose which of the ten we like best or which we think are most important. God already did that.
So, out of ALL the rules God could have outlined for our well-being, He not only included honoring our father and mother, but He also gave it a corresponding promise: “that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12b, ESV). We are not to honor God (or our parents!) to get the blessing, but what a bonus. Honor them because God says so. Then reap the blessings...a long life, in the place God has provided for you.
PARENTS
Have you noticed that parents, because they are people, can be difficult? When we are small children, parents seem to have so many rules! As teens, we think our parents don’t know anything; as young adults, we think the world has changed and they just can’t relate. When we are mature adults, we can finally consider the value in their experience. Eventually, there comes about a bit of a role reversal as we begin to care for and “parent’ our parents. Honoring them means always regarding them with respect, regardless of their mental or physical abilities, for their position and influence in our lives. It was purposeful, ordained by God.
Make It Personal: Do you become easily frustrated with your parent(s)? If so, it’s time to reflect on how you can honor God by honoring them, even in a challenging time. Why? Because it reflects our own trust in God’s plan and obedience to what He has called us to do. If this was so important to God that it made the “Top 10,” it needs to be an intentional commitment and priority for us. Ask God your next step in this area.
Pray: Father God, thank You for those You’ve put in my life, who You chosen to be my Father and Mother. After You, they were the first to love me. Show me the ways I can honor them daily and thereby honor You. Help me, God, to see the good in them, loving beyond any imperfections, forgiving as You have forgiven me, loving just as You have loved me through them. Amen
Read: Exodus 20:1-21; Ephesians 6:1-4
Weekly Memory Verse: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’” Ephesians 6:1-3, ESV