Daily Scripture: Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land which Adonai your God is giving you.
Ephesians 6:1 Children, what you should do in union with the Lord is obey your parents, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” — this is the first commandment that embodies a promise — 3 “so that it may go well with you, and you may live long in the Land.”[a]
4 Fathers, don’t irritate your children and make them resentful; instead, raise them with the Lord’s kind of discipline and guidance.[Footnotes:
Ephesians 6:3 Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16]
Reflection Questions:When the letter to the Ephesians quoted the fifth commandment as “the first one with a promise attached,” it pointed to the need to respect and obey parents. It added an important qualifier: “obey your parents in the Lord.” It also pointed to the need for parents to treat children with respect, to be worthy of children’s obedience.
- Would it be possible for a parent to make a demand that you could not obey “in the Lord”? Have you ever had to face a painful situation like that? If so, what did you do? Have you ever obeyed your parent(s) when what they asked went against your wishes, but not against God’s teachings?
- In practical, everyday terms, what does it look like when parents “don’t provoke your children to anger, but raise them with discipline and instruction about the Lord”? How well or poorly did your parents find a way to live out those two commands? If you’re a parent, how would your kids say you’re doing on those two points?
Lord Jesus, I give you my allegiance above all human allegiances, even family ones. But I also ask you to help me be the most loving, caring family member I can possibly be. Amen.Insights from Phil Antilla
Phil Antilla serves as the program director for Young Adult and College Ministry: www.cor.org/ya
I’m sure every child struggles to obey their parents. Having been raised in a Christian home, I often felt like my parents always had the “trump card” no matter what the situation: “Obey your parents and mow the lawn. Obey your parents and clean the kitchen. Obey your parents and clean the cat’s litter box.” Fortunately, my parents never abused this supreme power (although I was always responsible for cleaning out the cat’s litter box).
It wasn’t until I grew older that I realized why it was so important to obey your parents. It’s not because your parents are always right. As every parent can attest—mistakes happen. And most of the time, even the best parents are still just trying to learn as you go!
The real reason why children ought to obey their parents is because it forms them into the type of person who can love and obey God. The Old Testament is filled with challenging and often painful metaphors of parenthood—from sacrificing an only child to forgiving a rebellious child. But in all cases, these images don’t just describe family dynamics; they describe the sort of relationship we ought to have with God. Relationships based on faith and trust, forgiveness and grace.
I am thankful for my parents. They are good role models. They taught me many life lessons. But perhaps the greatest gift that they gave to me was the opportunity to know what it felt like to love and be loved through many different seasons of life.
My parents helped to model the sort of relationship that I was to have with them, with my wife, and with God. My parents taught me that fidelity lasts through all seasons of life. And we know this is possible because of the love that we see in Jesus (who also had to obey the will of his “Father”).So children, be faithful to your parents. And parents, be faithful to your children. Because every day presents you with an opportunity to model and remember the love of God—which is always forgiving, always faithful, and always working to restore even the most broken of relationships. Thanks be to God!
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
I’m sure every child struggles to obey their parents. Having been raised in a Christian home, I often felt like my parents always had the “trump card” no matter what the situation: “Obey your parents and mow the lawn. Obey your parents and clean the kitchen. Obey your parents and clean the cat’s litter box.” Fortunately, my parents never abused this supreme power (although I was always responsible for cleaning out the cat’s litter box).
It wasn’t until I grew older that I realized why it was so important to obey your parents. It’s not because your parents are always right. As every parent can attest—mistakes happen. And most of the time, even the best parents are still just trying to learn as you go!
The real reason why children ought to obey their parents is because it forms them into the type of person who can love and obey God. The Old Testament is filled with challenging and often painful metaphors of parenthood—from sacrificing an only child to forgiving a rebellious child. But in all cases, these images don’t just describe family dynamics; they describe the sort of relationship we ought to have with God. Relationships based on faith and trust, forgiveness and grace.
I am thankful for my parents. They are good role models. They taught me many life lessons. But perhaps the greatest gift that they gave to me was the opportunity to know what it felt like to love and be loved through many different seasons of life.
My parents helped to model the sort of relationship that I was to have with them, with my wife, and with God. My parents taught me that fidelity lasts through all seasons of life. And we know this is possible because of the love that we see in Jesus (who also had to obey the will of his “Father”).So children, be faithful to your parents. And parents, be faithful to your children. Because every day presents you with an opportunity to model and remember the love of God—which is always forgiving, always faithful, and always working to restore even the most broken of relationships. Thanks be to God!
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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