Devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah

Reach the Heart

Honor your father and mother . . . that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.
Ephesians 6:2-3

Recommended Reading Hebrews 5:5-9

Why is it so important for children to honor and obey their parents? It's not because we need well-behaved children, nor is it simply because we are adults and they are minors. God commands children to obey their mother and father because it is training for the respect and obedience needed for a healthy relationship with the Lord. And when a child understands that in being obedient to his parents he is obeying Christ, then the heart of that child is impacted forever. Becoming acquainted with submission to loving authority and obedience to a caring parent makes it easier for a child to have a genuine desire to love, serve, and obey God.

Every word of the Bible was written for a specific purpose, and the command to "Honor your father and mother" is no exception. Jesus set the standard for obedience when He walked the earth. Not only did He put himself under the authority and leadership of His earthly mother and father, but He also obeyed His true Father even unto death to pay the price for our sins. Let us follow in His example by honoring our parents and teaching our children to do the same.

Obedience is the gateway through which knowledge, yes, and love too, enter the mind of the child.
Anne Sullivan