Honor Thy Parents

One of my least favorite activities is clothes shopping. So the other day I got tricked into going back to school shopping with my wife and the kids. The reason I was tricked is that we went to see a movie and then the ever so sly "Hey, since we are by the mall..." routine.

To make matters worse, 2 of the shirts for the boys were the wrong size and I was asked to make the exchange if I was in the area. Surprisingly enough the exchange was pleasant and my anxiety level stayed in the greenish yellow area.

While in the store making the exchange I saw a family walk by with 2 young boys. As they passed I heard a little commotion and then a loud smack. Assuming it was a parent delivering an attitude adjustment I looked and noticed it was in fact one of the boys hitting his father. This will not end well for the youngster I thought to myself.

Needless to say, in today's society, the little boy got a good glaring at with a mad face. Yup, that was it; Hit dad and I will look at you with a mad face. Of course you know that didn't have the effect the parent was hoping for and as expected, the child began to laugh.

While I'm sure most of us who were raised with the paddle, belt, switch, etc. would have expected something more than a scowl, that's not what I am interested in today.

Call me a softy, but if you raise your children right, their is little need for corporal punishment. At the same time I also believe it is a necessary punishment. That brings to mind a verse we like to preach but seldom practice. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3 (NIV)

It's drilled into almost every child starting in Sunday school and for good reason. You seldom hear of people having a lack of respect for authority that were raised under this rule. 

As we grow older, many look at this as only applicable when we are younger, like turning 18 you are no longer bound by curfew laws. 

Even as we are children to earthly parents and grow up we still remain their children. To think that at a certain age we are no longer children is to be misinformed. At what point would you say that you are no longer one of God's children? 

To show the importance of honoring your parents take a look at Romans 1:29-13. Paul is writing about the sinfulness of humanity and talks about every kind of wickedness that has filled their hearts; They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents.

When talking about killers and gossips, I don't think Paul decides to pull in the 8-10 year old's who are also engaged in parental disobedience. We are instructed to have the highest honor for our parents, regardless of our age or our parents age. 

Remember these verses when you are upset with your parents over their decisions at any age in life.

As parents, we can also help our children grow to honor us as Proverbs 22:6 says Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from them.

Approval of Men or of God?

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Gal 1:10(NIV)

I don't really have a message to go along with this verse. It's one of many verses that is highlighted in my Bible and I also have a picture of it in my phone. I make it a habit to have scripture ready to lift me up, keep me safe, keep me focused and help me stay inspired.

One of the biggest issues Christians have to deal with day to day is living in a sinful world and remaining focused on God. Jesus says in John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Because it is in our nature to be loved, liked and accepted, it can be easy to agree with the world and win their approval if it means we have a chance to feel good. This is when we run the risk of loosing our souls. In Mark 8:36 we are told For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

I would encourage you to continually ready the Bible and find verses that speak to you. Make it a point to highlight them, take a picture of them, put notes around your house or desk; write them on your heart. This is how you can stay strong in the world and not worry about the approval of man, but to keep focus on the goal.