Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
There are some things you don’t have to teach a child. You do not have to teach them how to scream “Mine!” when someone has something they want. You do not have to teach them how to throw a tantrum when they don’t get their way. Living with the curse of sin in a fallen world, we all lean toward disobedience in some way. Even children, as innocent as they are in many ways, cannot escape the effects of their sinful nature.
God’s guidance through parents is not a power play but an intentional design of growth and development. The ways of obedience and honor do not come naturally to us. We are naturally inclined to insist on our own way and rebel against God. Parents love their children as they show them the ways of obedience in a Christlike way, and children glorify God and follow His design as they listen to the godly instruction of their parents. God designed the family structure; He knows the guidance we need, and our inclination toward sin. Although all families are broken to some degree, we can see and value the good of what God designed and how He has given each person in a family a role and part to play for His glory. We honor Him as we trust His way is right and good.
- How are we honoring God when we honor godly instruction from our parents?
- Why is obedience often difficult?
- Pray and ask God to help you glorify Him in the part you play in your family as a child, sibling, or parent.
