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Daily Devotion: Ephesians 6:1-4

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Ephesians 6:1-4     "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.  (4)  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

I hear it often said that children do not come with an instruction manual. That is not true. We have the greatest instruction manual that is effective from birth to death and every day in between. God has not left out anything that is needed in order to live successful and productive lives. In today's verses, Paul quotes "the first commandment with promise" which says, "Honour thy father and mother." He is stating the fifth commandment which is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it. "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." (Exodus 20:12) In Deuteronomy 5:16, we read it in this manner: "Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Honour thy father and thy mother... that it may go well with thee. I know there are exceptions to every situation, but God states a truth and I accept it at face value. Honouring our fathers and mothers brings a better life for us than if we dishonor or disobey them. The simple truth is stated in Ephesians 6:1,  "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." We need no other reason than the fact that God says, "This is right." This is His way!

Then we see in verse 4 that there is an addendum to the first part... "Children, obey your parents in the Lord... AND "ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Provoke not your children to wrath. Notice the wording, ".. bring them up..." All too often, we see parents "taking" their children to church. They bring them to the front door, let them out of the car, and then come to pick them up afterwards. God does not tell parents to take their children up in the Lord; rather, we are to "bring them up." That is to say, parents (FATHERS and MOTHERS) are to teach their children about the Lord by walking alongside them. We are to bring them up by example as well as verbal teaching. Parents should never take the approach of "do as I say, not as I do." Children are provoked to wrath when they see their parents living a life that is contrary to what is expected. I realize I have said nothing new in this writing, but it seems to bear witness that these words are needed afresh in our day and time. More times than not, children follow the example of their parents - good or bad. God's command is that we are to accept the task.. yea the privilege.. of bringing our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. May we be reminded of the words of the Psalmist, "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD." (Psalm 127:3)

3 Faith of our mothers, guiding faith,
For youthful longing, youthful doubt,
How blurred our vision, blind our way,
Thy providential care without.
Faith of our mothers, guiding faith,
We will be true to thee till death.

4 Faith of our mothers, Christian faith,
In truth beyond our stumbling creeds,
Still serve the home and save the Church,
And breathe thy spirit through our deeds;
Faith of our mothers, Christian faith,
We will be true to thee till death.

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