“‘Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.‘” Exodus 20:12 (NIV)
As we continue exploring the Ten Commandments, we notice that the first four commandments are vertical in nature whereas the remaining six commandments are horizontal in nature. The first four commandments are “Godward,” and the remaining six are “manward.” The fifth commandment is the first commandment with a promise.
Respect your parents by obeying them. In God’s covenant community, obedience and submission to parents is vital. The family unit is built on mutual trust and mutual submission. To disobey your parents is to bring chaos to the family and society. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Eph. 6:1 NIV).
Respect your parents by appreciating them. Appreciating your parents brings honor to God and produces a healthy atmosphere where peace reigns. Appreciation is demonstrated by recognizing their effort & sacrifice. Your parents are doing the best they can with what they have. Your parents are sacrificing personal ambitions, time, energy, & money.
Respect your parents by caring for them. Meeting their needs and serving them throughout their lifetime is a mark of spiritual maturity and an indicator of respect. “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God” (1 Tim. 5:4 NIV). Respect your parents by providing for them and helping them to finish strong.
Respect your parents by forgiving them. Perhaps you have father-wounds or mother-wounds. Don’t be imprisoned by unforgiveness. Choose to forgive your parents. Extend forgiveness to them just as God has extended forgiveness to you.
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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