DEVOTION – DAY 160

Ephesians 6:1-3 “Obeying Our Parents”

Eph.6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother – which is the first commandment with a promise – so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

In vs.1, Paul said that children should obey their parents in the Lord. This meant that they were to obey their parents because it was what Jesus wanted them to do. Also, Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit would be helping children to obey their parents. The command to obey our parents can also be traced back to Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” The word “honor” would mean that children were required to value, to esteem, to respect, to care for, and to obey their parents. This forms one of the 10 commandments that God gave Moses. Although originally applied to the Israelites, by repeating it here, the Lord meant this commandment to apply to all believers. It also came with the Lord’s promise that when we obey and honor our parents, we will enjoy a long life on the earth. Sadly, there are people today who have failed to keep this command.

There are children who resent the well-meaning advice of their parents because they think it is “nagging”. Parents want the best for their children. So, they instruct their children not to stay out late at night. They tell their children to avoid smoking and to never drink alcohol and drive. They tell their children to remain pure and not succumb to sexual temptation before marriage. They tell their children to study hard because a solid and good education will be good for their future. Such advice is given out of concern and love for their children. But, sometimes, children willfully choose to disobey their parents and go against their wishes. They think such advice is old fashioned and limits their freedom to do as they choose with their lives. So, some children rebel against their parents. Instead of obeying their parents, they challenge the authority of their parents. They argue with their parents. They are defiant against their parents.

Some even want nothing to do with their parents. Some would not hesitate to place their parents in homes for the aged, claiming that they are unable to care for them. When this happens, we see the gracious family structure that God had commanded in these verses being overthrown. The result is loneliness and rejection for the parents. The children will end up giving a bad example for their own children to follow, so that when it is their turn to grow old, their own children would rebel against them. For such people, they would not enjoy God’s promise of a long life on earth because their life in their old age would be marked with loneliness and regret for the mistakes made in disobeying their parents.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for the wisdom of your Word that reminds us to obey and honor our parents in the Lord. Help us to do this willingly and lovingly. In the precious name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Questions

  1. What are some typical areas that children find it hard to obey their parents? Discuss.
  2. How can parents help their children to be obedient? What role should parents play in this regard? Discuss.
  3. Why should children obey their parents?
  4. What are some ways you can show that you honor your parents? Share.