Friday, March 2, 2012

Seeing the Face of Christ in Our Families--Saturday, March 3, 2012

Ephesians 6:1-4
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother – this is the first commandment with a promise: so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.  And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

            As has probably been the case for hundreds of years, adults comment on the matter of children obeying their parents and the conflict that often surrounds it.  We parents either think our children are pretty obedient or we bemoan our offspring’s waywardness.  Often parents talk together and compare their children to other children. Perhaps we should look at how we as adults are obedient to God.  We should be examples for our children.  Do we obey with gladness or do we mutter excuses about not complying with God’s commandments?  We should look at His commandments as guidelines that make our lives more fulfilling and less stressful.  Our children can then see, through our examples, the need to follow our directions.
Carolyn and Jim Behrens

For reflection:
What does it mean to be an obedient child of God?
What are some of the primary lessons you wish to teach the next generation, and how effectively do you feel children are learning those lessons? 
Where do you fall short in your example for others?

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