Yesterday, in our Bible study together, we studied Proverbs 22:6, which says, "Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." This verse, we learned during the weekend sermon, is a principle, not a promise. You see, many times, those who obey this Scripture find the principle in this passage of Scripture to be true: Those who raise their children in the Lord on the right path often find that their children continue to hold true to God and His Word as they grow older. Some children, however, stray from God and His word even though their parents raised them to know and obey the Lord. You see, ultimately, children are responsible for choosing to listen to their parents and follow God.
Because children are responsible for their actions, Scripture calls children to obey and honor their parents. Paul wrote about this command for children in Ephesians 6. He said, "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do" (verse 1). Why did Paul call children to obey their parents? He called them to obey their parents because they "belong to the Lord." In other words, because they follow God, they are to obey and honor their parents. This was not a new command. In fact, Paul reminded readers in this passage of Scripture that this command was first given in the Old Testament. He quoted Deuteronomy 5, which says, "Honor your father and mother" (verse 2). Deuteronomy 5:16 promises that those who obey this instruction will "live a long, full life" (verse 16). The "long, full life” described in this passage of Scripture does not necessarily mean length in number but rather full of meaning, peace, and joy.
Still today, Scripture calls us to honor our parents. The question is, do we take this command seriously? Do we still seek to honor our parents by the way we live today? Do we pray for the kids God has placed in our lives so that they will come to know Him and live in a way that honors Him, their Heavenly Father? It is time that we commit to honoring our parents and praying for the children in our lives so that they will honor and obey God for all the days of their lives.
Take a few moments now to pray for the children in your life. Pray that they would come to know and love God and His word deeply. Pray that they would obey Him and follow Him all the days of their lives. Next, thank God for the parents He has placed in your life. Commit to honoring them by the way you live your life and ask for His help as you strive to do this.
1Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully, Israel. Hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today, so you may learn them and obey them!
2 “The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Mount Sinai.3 The Lord did not make this covenant with our ancestors, but with all of us who are alive today. 4 At the mountain the Lord spoke to you face to face from the heart of the fire. 5 I stood as an intermediary between you and the Lord, for you were afraid of the fire and did not want to approach the mountain. He spoke to me, and I passed his words on to you. This is what he said:
6 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
7 “You must not have any other god but me.
8 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 10 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
11 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do. 15 Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day.
16 “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
17 “You must not murder.
18 “You must not commit adultery.
19 “You must not steal.
20 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
21 “You must not covet your neighbor’s wife. You must not covet your neighbor’s house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
22 “The Lord spoke these words to all of you assembled there at the foot of the mountain. He spoke with a loud voice from the heart of the fire, surrounded by clouds and deep darkness. This was all he said at that time, and he wrote his words on two stone tablets and gave them to me.
