Catechism--Fourth Commandment--Honor your father and mother. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.
Ephesians 6:2-3--“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.”
Devotion--I remember clearly one time when a fellow Christian was talking to me about her mother, who was elderly and not doing so well. In the course of our discussion, I asked her the question, "What does it look like to honor your mother?" It seemed rather apparent that this wasn't something that she had given a great deal of thought to.
What does it look like to honor our parents? Maybe you haven't thought much about that question either. Does it mean that we do what they say? Does it mean that we respect them for what they did in raising us? Does it mean we follow them blindly, and never question what they say?
I hope you give some thought to this question today. Up front, I want to say that I don't have the "correct" answer. But I can say that God's Word gives us a few clues as to what it looks like to honor our parents.
Listen to them respectfully, and learn wisdom from what they have been through. When the things they say and tell you to do are in agreement with God's Word, then do them wholeheartedly. Remember that they have sacrificed much to raise you, and take that into account in your interactions with them. Pray for them regularly, giving thanks for what they have done, and lifting up the concerns that they have in life.
God's Word gives a promise to this commandment, and I'm convinced it's not only for the people to whom the commandment was initially given. When families find themselves in harmony, life does go much better. When the home is a caring, loving environment, everyone tends to do much better. And while that may begin with the parents, it is also impacted by the way we honor, love, and obey our parents.
Ephesians 6:2-3--“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.”
Devotion--I remember clearly one time when a fellow Christian was talking to me about her mother, who was elderly and not doing so well. In the course of our discussion, I asked her the question, "What does it look like to honor your mother?" It seemed rather apparent that this wasn't something that she had given a great deal of thought to.
What does it look like to honor our parents? Maybe you haven't thought much about that question either. Does it mean that we do what they say? Does it mean that we respect them for what they did in raising us? Does it mean we follow them blindly, and never question what they say?
I hope you give some thought to this question today. Up front, I want to say that I don't have the "correct" answer. But I can say that God's Word gives us a few clues as to what it looks like to honor our parents.
Listen to them respectfully, and learn wisdom from what they have been through. When the things they say and tell you to do are in agreement with God's Word, then do them wholeheartedly. Remember that they have sacrificed much to raise you, and take that into account in your interactions with them. Pray for them regularly, giving thanks for what they have done, and lifting up the concerns that they have in life.
God's Word gives a promise to this commandment, and I'm convinced it's not only for the people to whom the commandment was initially given. When families find themselves in harmony, life does go much better. When the home is a caring, loving environment, everyone tends to do much better. And while that may begin with the parents, it is also impacted by the way we honor, love, and obey our parents.
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