Live Long: Do What Dad Says
Obedience to parents: an unpopular yet vital subject; a serious truth but often neglected.
God is good. He not only gives commands but He also gives us reasons to obey and promises to bless obedience.
Commands
Exodus 20:12 “Honour your father and your mother that you might live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you”.
Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children [that’s us] obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. (This is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land”.
Colossians 3:20 “Children obey your parents in everything for this pleases the Lord”.
Three unmistakable and simple commands from God.
Reasons
Why should we obey? Here’s why...
a) It is the Law of God (Ephesians 6:2)
b) It is the right thing to do (Ephesians 6:1)
c) It is for our good (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:3; Colossians 3:20)
d) It adds to our life expectancy (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:3)
e) It glorifies and pleases God (Colossians 3:2)
Five simple and logical reasons why we should obey.
Promises
1) It is good. Do we want good things? Yes.
2) It helps us live longer. Do we want to live long and happy lives? Yes.
They say the grass is greener elsewhere. It often seems attractive to serve God elsewhere. We often want to serve in other fields, such as a missionary or homemaker. But while we are under our parents we must serve God by obeying our parents. Luke 16:10 says, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much. One who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much”. How would this teaching of Jesus affect us in the home?
By being faithful in little things, in the simple matter of obeying mum and dad, doors will open to greater fields of service. And we might live long enough to get there!
From the anonymous Jersey Hacker
