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Hey All,

This week we continue our journey through the Ten (10) commandments at the fourth commandment. This commandment begins the second command of Jesus in Matthew 22:39 The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The balance of the commandments (4-7) will focus on our response to each other.  So let’s dig a little deeper on the Fourth (4) commandment.

The Fourth Commandment

Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth.

What Does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not despise our parents or masters, nor provoke them to anger, but give them honor, serve ad obey them, and hold them in love and esteem.

What does God Want or NOT want us to do?

God places a high priority in life that we must “honor” our parents in this commandment. To honor means that we not only love them but with modesty and humility submit to their will. Understandably this is not always easy because God did not bless us all with perfect parents, so we follow this commandment not because every parent is worthy but because we are commanded by the will of God. For those of us who are parents, we now realize that being a parent is not easy. Just as PJ said on Sunday that we are to help the poor, widows, and orphans we are also take care of our parents when they become sick or old. Parents are always training the next generation of believers and it is up to us to raise children in the knowledge of God and respect for authority. Deuteronomy 6:7 says You shall teach [His ways] diligently to your sons and you shall talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. We do this so that as it says in Colossians 3:30 Children be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.  We are not only to submit to our parents but also to the government. Romans 13:1-2 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. So it does not matter Blue or Red as we know God has a plan and is in control of everything.

Finally, God promises that if we follow this commandment we will live long on the earth. When I think about that promise what I hear is …….if you don’t!!!!!! your life will just lead to a lot of trouble. If you were a rebellious youth, then you probably had to deal with trouble. If you were lucky, your correction was only with your parents and if not it was with law enforcement. If in life we obey the laws of our government we can lead a peaceful life but if not, we see people in court and in incarceration all the time for disobedience.

So to wrap up

I am thankful that the wild moments I had growing up did not lead to a life of trouble. My parents did correct me and even though I have a stubborn streak, God got through to me, but everyone’s walk in life is different. This commandment seems so simple and yet because of the circumstances of life it can be very difficult.

Father I pray this week that each of us can lift up our parents to you whether they are still on this earth or in heaven with you. Lord help us to remember the good, and if healing is needed let your Holy Spirit work with us on the bad. Lord, You loved Your Son Jesus and yet You gave Him to the world so that we might have a place in heaven. That is a love that is so large I may not ever understand it, but help us to remain thankful for Your grace and Your Son’s sacrifice for us on the cross. I lift each parent up to You to strengthen them as they fulfill the vital role of training the next generation of disciples. Give them wisdom and guidance in Jesus’ name. Amen? AMEN!

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