Ephesians 6:1-2(NLT)
“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.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
My six-year old daughter was getting ready for school the other morning, and she didn’t want to wear the outfit I’d picked out for her. She kept moaning and crying, saying “Mommy, I don’t want to wear that to school! Why don’t you just let me pick out my own clothes! I can do it myself!” I let her be in her feelings because I knew she’d snap out of it. After about five minutes, she wiped her tears, was fully dressed and ready for breakfast. Kids want what they want. Sometimes they’ll throw a temper tantrum to get their way. As parents, we should see right through this. We must make it clear that we’re the parents, we know what’s best for them, and we make decisions in their best interests. They should learn safe boundaries, respect for authority, and the discipline of honor from us.
You and I didn’t come up with parenting skills all on our own. We got them from the expert, God, who will forever be our Master Teacher. In Ephesians 6:1-2, He tells us that children should obey their parents because it’s the right thing to do. And not only this, obedience extends life. This should come as no surprise to us. Obedience is extremely important to God, especially as it pertains to His Word, and He rewards it with the gift of many years of life on earth.
Our Heavenly Father is a God of order. He sets patterns and practices for us to follow. They are reliable and help us build successful relationships and navigate through life successfully. 1John 3:24(NLT) says, “Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.” One of the ways in which God demonstrates the importance of obedience is through the parent-child relationship. It started with His Son, Jesus Christ. He then created it for human beings, beginning with Adam and Eve.
Just as a successful relationship with our biological children can be developed as they learn to respect the boundaries we set, a successful relationship with God is built by obeying His Word. The same Godly principles are at work, and they will not fail.
For many of us growing up, there wasn’t a thought in our minds, as children, to say or do anything that would seem inappropriate to our elders. Honor and respect were woven into the tapestry of our youth. I’m so thankful for having parents and grandparents that took the time to not only raise me up in the admonition of the Word of God, but they also surrounded my siblings and me with people who would step in when they weren’t around; they gently (and sometimes firmly) set us straight. In the time in which we now live, society often works against this. The world doesn’t support the level of respect that we are instructed by God to teach our children. It can be challenging, but if we remain vigilant and ever prayerful, the Holy Spirit will help us raise loving children, and he will help them as well.
I’ve witnessed a dear friend of my family take care of her mother for many years now. Her mother had a stroke over ten years ago, and she had to admit her into a rehabilitation facility, where she has remained since. My friend doesn’t miss a week taking the long drive to visit her mother or bring her mother to her home to stay for the weekend. Seeing this kind of love and honor for a parent is a wonderful testimony. I often say about my friend, “she’s going to live a long life.” And she will, because this is what God’s Word says.
It is a privilege to be a parent—a blessing from God. It is also a blessing to be the child of a loving and Godly parent. As mothers and fathers, the cycle begins with us. So let’s remember to always be prayerful that God will give us the strength, moral character, and wisdom to teach and raise our children in a way that pleases Him. He tells us in Proverbs 22:6 that if we will train our children in Godliness, like my dear friend, when they are old, they will not depart from it, but become loving parents themselves. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Praying Parents, Loving Children”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.