Greetings! Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Today's Scripture:
"Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." (Ephesians 6: 1-3)
Today's Word:
God's estimation of the respect due to our parents is evidence by the fact that the subject made His top ten list! That is to say, included in the 10 Commandments are the words:
Honor your father and your mother period! Now, notice the different nuances the apostle gives to this command to honor our parents. In addition to encouraging us to honor them, he makes some significant distinctions.
1. He suggests that we have at least two kinds of parents. We have natural parents in the flesh. These are the ones who give us life. Then, we have spiritual parents in the Lord. These are the parents who give us spiritual guidance and mentorship. In some cases, these two sets of parents are one in the same. In many cases they are not.
2. When Paul tells us to obey our parents in the Lord, he is teaches us two things. First, he is saying that we should not only obey our natural parents, but also those who are our spiritual parents. Furthermore, he is instructing us to obey both our natural parents and our spiritual parents in the Lord - that is in godly things.
3. Therefore, we are bound to honor our parents no matter what and no matter who they are. However, we are only bound to obey our parents in the Lord. If our parents give us instructions which are godly, we are bound to follow them because those instructions are in the Lord.
However, if our parents of either sort give us leadership and guidance which is not in the Lord, we are not Biblically bound to obey them. Already some of you reading this can anticipate the chaos that this could cause when children (especially young ones) rebel against the rules of the adults over them and then have the audacity to blame it on the Bible.
However, this text should be seen as a word of warning to parents to be good examples and to give godly instructions. At the same time, it is an escape clause for the children of parents who are being trained, expected and directed to do that which is wrong. On the one hand, the key for any child (of any age) is learning how to honor and respect his or her parent even when they are not bound by the Bible or righteousness to obey them.
Then, on the other hand, the question for any child (of any age) becomes how can he or she ever justify disobeying their parents when what he or she is being directed to do is clearly in the Lord?
Prayer for Today:
Lord we ask for you wisdom in our actions and that you guide us in obeying our parents and other leaders who give us advice or commands. Many who have no parents but have mentors or parental roll models must seek your will to ensure we follow Godly direction. Please fill us with what is right and empty us of all that is selfish and evil.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen!
Rev Patrick Muston, Pastor
Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC
www.selahchurch.com
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