Honor Your Father And Your Mother
We Cannot Change People
EPHESIANS 6:1-4
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
”Ephesians 6:1-4 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.6.1-4.NKJ
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These verses give us the beautiful balance between parents and children that we would expect to find in the Christian home.
Children are to respect and obey their parents, but at the same time, parents are to treat their children in a loving way that brings about respect and honor.
By this, their children will naturally trust and respect them and desire to remain obedient to them without fear of making thier own decisions and advances in life.
The father is responsible to be the example to follow; he is to set the pattern for the child’s behaviours in the family home and every aspect of life, in a Godly way, as to not provoke his children to wrath, treating them with fairness, respect, and loving discipline.
The father is the covering for his family and is to bring up his children in the training and admonition of the Lord; he is responsible to “bring up” his children, with the help of his wife to the best of their abilities, protecting and providing for them and nurturing them so that they become who God wants them to be; to tenderly bring them up with loving care, encouragement and corrective discipline that will bring about submission and obedience to Gods word, and give them confidence to forward their lives by walking in faith and dealing with the trials of life in a wise and godly manner.
This is also true within the church.
Leaders should not treat their congregation in a way to provoke wrath, but rather to be an example of Christ, leading, teaching, and supporting the congregation in the Lords truth, with loving discipline when needed, with the goal of making disciples of all God’s people, that they all come to operate in unity within the body of Christ, some apostes, some prophets, some teachers, some pastors, and some evangelist.
The truth is, Jesus is the only head, and we are all individual members of His body and all have a part to play (EPHESIANS 4:11-16).
The way of the Lord is to love-to see others needs as important as your own.
Therefore, Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others (PHILIPPIANS 2:4).
This is Jesus’ way of life and a commandment, to put all these things into practice, not just in the family home, but in the church, the workplace, and in deed, in all society and every part of our daily lives.
That is to love your neighbor as yourself, the second commandment which is like the first and great commandment, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets (see MATHEW 22:37-40).
When one is obedient to the Laws of love, they will naturally fall into obedience of all the other commandments.
Most certainly I tell you, if only all would obey these two great commandments, this world would very quickly become a far better place to live.
This is all well and good where every family is of God.
But that’s not always the case.
Many believers struggle with rebellious children who have been influenced by the world and its ways, particularly as they go into their teens. It is also true to say that some young people give their lives to Christ regardless of their un-believing families.
But we need to understand, either way, we cannot change people or their beliefs, only God can do that.
Therefore, be an example of Christ, and show them the fruits of the Spirit in you. Love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such, there is no law (GALATIANS 5:22-23). It is by those fruits that the hearts of unbelievers maybe softened to the obedience of Christ.
Neither condemn nor hammer anyone to receive Christ, that’s not Jesus’ way. But rather, speak truthfully with testimonies out of love to only those who are willing to listen.
When we push unbelievers to receive Christ, we push them further into the darkness, like pushing a pea through a straw, one end in darkness and the other in the light. We believers are in the light, therefore when we hammer people, like a pea in a straw, we push them further into darkness. Only God can safely go into the darkness and push that pea from darkness to light. Only He can soften hearts and push people from darkness into His kingdom of light.
Therefore, shine for Christ and be an example, pray and then stand back and allow God to do his part.
Jesus said, ““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
