Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:1-4
Both of our passages today give us the command to "Honor your father and mother." Now when I was younger and still lived under my parents' roof, honoring my dad and mom equated to basically obeying them. As I got older, got married and moved out, there was still an obey element but I realized that honoring went deeper and included things like respecting what I had been taught even though I was no longer under their direct authority, and seeking out their instruction and input in life decisions. My dad and mom are no longer living, but my honoring them goes on. It's just modified a bit.
So what has honoring your father and mother looked like in your life? Based on our passages today, how important do you think this is to God? Tami W.
Honouring my father and mother when I was young meant obedience to their instructions. Now they are dead, but their legacy lives on in me and my daughters. I now honour my parents by living a christian life which is what they taught and which I have come to realise is the only life worth living. I have passed on that wisdom to my daughters and they too have accepted Christ. Now honoung my parents mean that I instruct young people in the ways that I was taught and live a christian life.
Honoring our father and mother is an important command and it brings with it a great promise. I don't think we fully appreciate this command until we get older and most likely, when we become parents ourselves. Like most commands, we need to obey and follow them, even when we don't fully understand them. No parents are perfect and some are even harmful, but each parent is worthy of honor. In many cases, when an "unhonorable" parent is shown honor, they can see the love of Christ in that.
I've recently become an orphan at 49.
This past I've been meditating on that commandment. Worship God; honor parents; love neighbors. How important is honoring my parents? And how much still after they are gone? And it doesn't say don't honor them if they are rotten parents!
The promise is live a long life! Not in years, but as a legacy through the ages. And as an example for all children how they are treat their parents.
My honoring my parents looks like me praising God for giving me parents who bore me into this world. Passing down the stories I remember them telling me. Looking forward to being the best parent I can be for my children. Looking forward to being a grandparent. And all of this because of my parents choosing life for me!
No I don't think I showed the honor or respect God required of me as a child. I loved my parents but didn't show it. Too bad lessons are learned to late. I give it all to Jesus who died for my sins. He is my true Father, Mother Brother, Sister, Friend, Savior. Thank you for allowing me to share this. I tell you folks I need your prayers to be a better CHRISTIAN, wife, mother and grandmother!
it is very important to God and I have fallen miserably short. my brother and I grew up in an environment with an absent dad and an extremely abusive mom. as a result, my relationship with my dad today is shallow and without foundation and I have not spoken with my mom in 10 plus years. I realize that God has not excused me from obeying these commands because I have had a tough time with my parents. I also realize that He expects me to make ammends and bridge gaps. I really need prayer.
As I read both passages, I thought of my father who would discipline us. I am glad he did, because if he did not I do not know how we would have turned out. He disciplined us because he loved us and wanted us to be good. He wanted us to have repect and care for for others.
After I finished reading the passages, I thanked God for my parents both of whom have passed on. God has really been merciful to me.
Sadly our society today mocks the elderly and seeks to compartmentalize them into homes/institutions. I think there is a tiny glimmer of hope that this is not been the best thing for families or society as a whole. My parents have lived a life. They have experience in many facets of life. They have seen so many changes in the world. There is a wealth of knowledge waiting in my parents to be tapped for my life. I try to honour them by seeing them as the younger people they used to be--stronger, faster, quick-witted, purposeful. My tendency is to treat them as if they are past their prime when they really should be valued for their wisdom and for the amazing things they have done for me and for my heritage. I have an opportunity to 'show' my kids how parents should be treated which benefits future generations too.
Thanks for your comments everyone. Really great. I lost my dad when I was about 24 - aproximately 30 years ago. We had a great relationship, but I know I would see him very different if God had not taken him so young. I reap the benefits of the great Christian testimony he lived in his short 46 years.
My younger brother is a great help with my 77year old widowed mother. He told me that he and his wife realize that they need to show respect to my mother as their daughter is watching their example.
Well friends!I as well as my brothers & sisters got strict discipline growing up!I no longer have my father with me cause he went to be with the Lord this past February.Mom is getting up there in years too!But we can "return the favor"of taking care of them when they can no longer look after themselves!One example of our strict discipline was(I will never forget it as long as I live!)one day us brothers & sisters were arguing & naturally we lived growing up on the farm so Pa thought he'd teach us a lesson this way-We had to clean the "chickenhouse"at midnight!Now as if that weren't rough enough,try doing it in the dark while just using a flashlight!I'll tell ya that those "pitchforks"can be a shade dangerous when you can't see one coming!Yea we still love ma & we did pa as well!We're under "biblical authority " to do so!Even if ya did have it rough growing up,you can still forgive those who harmed by abuse or a parent "taking a powder"on you!Never let unforgiveness hold you up!
I have been blessed with grandparents and parents (now 90 & 85) who lived with integrity and whose example has been a blessing to follow. I have continued our family business, copying the honest practices I was taught as I worked along side dad. Now my grandson comes to the office to play like I used to do. I pray that I may be a godly grandpa who shows him Christ by example, and if necessary, with words.
Thank you for all the comments today. I too have trouble with this, what is honor. I suppose I ought to look it up in the strongs or dictionary. Well, just thank you.
Thanks everyone for your comments. I really do not know how I would have honored my Dad who left Mum for another woman and I was raised up as child by Grand Mum and my Uncles.
But thanks be to God because of my faith in Jesus I was able to forgive Dad before he passed on. Truely there is power in forgiveness because despite what Dad has done to me and my three sisters by neglecting us in our upbringing I do not have any grudge against him anymore.It also changed my perspective that truely though Dad didn't fulfil his full responsibility as a father the only thing I can treasure is that without him I would not be dispatched into this world. And that's what makes me appreciate him as my Dad. I have learnt from his mistakes and have choosen to be a good father for my children.
I encourage fellow believers who have not forgiven your parents
because of past situations to forgive them.
You will truely be realeased in body ,soul and spirit and begin
to appreciate and love your parents.
Regards
Nigel