I want to revisit something I wrote recently about honoring your mother and father (Ephesians 6:1-3). This teaching from God has direct promises tied to it. These promises were not tied to any other teaching. That alone should make us pause and rethink how we view or deal with our parents.
Over the years I have met many a Christian brother and sister that wants to serve the Lord. They love Him, but their hearts seem amiss and troubled. In speaking with them, it seems to eventually come up: family problems and some are deep seated. As they speak about how they were treated growing up it is painstaking for some and rightfully so, but then there is this hesitancy. "I haven't spoken to my mom or dad for some time now." Pushed away because of hurts in the lives of those who were under the guidance of parents. Yes, some parents failed miserably. What are we to do?
God calls us to honor because of the promises He tied to His teaching. We look at the misery caused and decide not to honor. There is too much pain and hurt so some simply dismiss it from their lives. As time flows along their heart continues to be troubled and they don't know why. After all, they are wanting to love and serve their Lord, but when anyone sets aside God and His teachings, with little thought. A darkness begins to set in. Things become unsettling in their lives. The promise begins to take an opposite effect and it's not going well. No matter what, the heavenly Father, is your Father and His grace and mercy are in place in your life. Calling you to live for Him. Part of that involves your parents, even if they are dishonorable. God calls us to honor. That is so difficult for many, but think for just a moment about your own sins before the Lord and rethink our attitudes toward our parents. Just simply step forward and honor them because they are your parents, which God calls us to. His mercy and grace gives us the strength to do what we can't and faith allows us to act righteously toward God's word.
I know parents who are everything they aren't suppose to be. They hurt, tempt, and oppress their children and God will hold them accountable. We need to believe that. Those who had parents that molded them and helping them have their best shot in life, to live on this earth with honor and dignity, for them the word from God comes with such clarity and power: Honor your father and mother. We need to look beyond and see the very foundation of our salvation in Christ Jesus. Our salvation is based on His love for us and our submission to Him. Those who do not take their place under His honorable authority in the home will find life difficult. Both in their work and in the Church. Submission is not a word they are in love with. Some come from those warm, fulfilling homes, while others want to escape their past because of the horrible memories. Yet God's word still speaks to His children, "Honor your father and mother." Sometimes parents try to shame their children into a response as adults by telling them that as parents, they have a right to expect certain things from their children. That too is backward. That's guilt control, not God loving. That makes life for their children more difficult and pushes them into moving away. Sin upon sin. We belong to Jesus and God is our Father. The need to rise above comes from His power, not ours.
One of the greatest fundamental ways in which we honor our father and mother because God calls us to is honor and not worship them. Parents are not God and should never be allowed to take place of God. And God is greater than our parents and should have the highest place both in our lives and love. That means we honor our parents because...
No comments:
Post a Comment