Ephesians 6: 1-3 (NIV)
Double Blessing
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right…so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” – Ephesians 6: 1-3 (NIV)
As husband and wife produce offspring, they are expected to take good care of them. Both parents and children have a responsibility to each other. Children are a gracious gift from God and are to be carefully trained by their parents (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Prov. 22:6) so that they will become a joy to the parent and bring glory to God. The human-parent-child relationship is a picture of God’s relationship with believers, who are His children (John 1:12) and so undergo similar training (Hebrews 12:5-11).
What is honour? Honour means “to treat as precious” and “to respect and love.” To obey means to do as one is told. However, children are not commanded to disobey God in obeying their parents. They are to obey while under their parent’s care, but the responsibility to honour parents is for life.
Children should honour their parents even if the parents are demanding and unfair. On the other hand, parents should care gently for their children even if they are disobedient and unpleasant. Indeed, thoughtfulness and love for each other will produce godly, healthy, and meaningful relationships. At the same time, a promise of double blessing is attached to those who display an attitude of reverence toward their parents. They are promised well-being and longevity as a general principle.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is still touching and changing lives. Therefore, in humility, let us point our children to our loving Saviour. As we run to Him, He will forgive “our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” – 1 John 1:9 (NIV). He can clean us up from the muck of this world so that we are “pure in heart” – Matthew 5:8 (NIV), discovering life with fresh, new purpose and an opportunity to see God.
Prayer
Father, we pray that our children will “keep” themselves “in God’s love” as they “wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ” to bring them “to eternal life” (Jude 21) and live in such a way that they may be deeply blessed, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Read: Deuteronomy 28:2; Ephesians 1:3
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 22:1-11; Mark 1:1-28; Exodus 17; Exodus 18
