DEVOTION – DAY 277

Ephesians 6:1-3 “Obey And Honor Parents”

 

Ephesians 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 Ephesians 6, Paul focused on relationships. Vv1-3 covers relationships between children and their parents. Paul instructed that children should obey their parents in the Lord. What does that mean? It means that children should not obey their parents in a blinded and unquestioning manner. Instead, children are to obey their parents in fellowship with the Lord, and in obedience to Him. Just as Jesus is obedient to God, the Father, children are to obey their parents when their parents are walking closely with the Lord.

 

When children obey and honor their parents, there is a promise that things may go well with them and that they may enjoy long life. This was because parents have a wealth of experience and knowledge that they can give to their children. Having raised their children, it is only right that the children respond by honoring their parents. This command and promise were also found in Deuteronomy 5:16. However, Deut.5:16 promised the Israelites that all would go well with them in the land if they obeyed and honored their parents. This was relevant because the Israelites were on the verge of occupying the Promised Land when Deut.5:16 was recorded. In Eph.6:1-3, Paul excluded references to the land and stated the general application.

 

What does that look like today? Many children do not listen to their parents and they do not follow what their parents tell them. Children think they know more than their parents do. Many children do not even consult their parents before making decisions. Some children are unable to care for their parents and so they put their parents in care homes. Others live abroad and only occasionally visit their parents. They neither obey nor honor their parents by their actions. Thus, they miss out on the promise that all may go well with them and the promise of a long life. But for those who obey their parents in the Lord, and honor their parents, they can trust in God’s promises set out for them in Eph.6:3.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us to obey and honor our parents. We thank you for giving us earthly parents to raise, love and guide us. Help us to respect them, love them, obey and honor them all the days of our lives. We pray this in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What kind of relationship do you have, or had with your parents?
  2. Was it easy to obey and honor them? Why or why not?
  3. Why is it important that you obey and honor your parents? Discuss.
  4. How will the way you obey and honor your parents impact the way your own children obey and honor you? Discuss.