Following In The Footsteps Of Faith, Hymn, This Is My Prayer, Mon, 7/30/2012

Exodus 20:12
HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER, Lesson 20a

A mother that had scrimped and saved to put her son through college sat in her son’s graduation. She watched as he walked across the platform and received his degree with honors. As he walked down the isle, instead of turning into the designated row, he kept walking; down to where his mother sat. The young man threw his arms around her neck, kissed her on the cheek, and as he placed his diploma in her hands, he said, "Here, Mother, you earned it!" The fifth commandment addresses that which many parents have earned.

Let’s face it, there aren’t that many children who hold their parents in that high regard. Too often, good old mom and dad are seen as obstacles to be overcome rather than wise guides to be followed and emulated. In this Fifth Commandment, God lays down a principle for life that will determine how every relationship around you will turn out. You see, the home is the foundational institution of society. No nation, or community of people, is stronger than the family structure that makes them up. As goes the home, so goes the nation, the community, the church, etc. In the home, God has established an order that is to be strictly followed. The husband/father is to be the head of that home, submitting himself to the will of the heavenly Father. The wife is to be in subjection to her husband, not as his doormat, but as his helpmeet. The children are to submit themselves to their parents, and in doing so, will be blessed of the Lord. If this order is followed, then the home will be blessed and will be a blessing to all those involved in it.

Yet, many homes are in shambles today because the children have forgotten all about the Fifth Commandment. It is fitting that this Commandment should fall here. It divides the commandments related to God from those related to our fellow man. You see, when we are out of step in the home, we will be out of step with God and with our fellow human beings. It is in the parental relationship that we learn first how to submit to the Lord and then how we are to serve our fellow man.

As we take a few minutes to look into this verse and all that it teaches, we will find that there is instruction here for both parents and for children. Let’s talk about “Honoring Thy Father and Thy Mother“.

THERE IS A RESPECT THAT IS DEMANDED

An Elevation To Recognize – This verse makes it plain that parents are to be held in high regard by their children. Notice Eph. 6:2 – "Honor thy father and mother." Honor means "To give great weight to; to hold as valuable." Children are to hold Mom and Dad in high respect. They are not just two old fools out to ruin your fun. They have been placed in your life by the sovereign will of Almighty God to be your overseers until your reach maturity. In the early stages of life, while a child is maturing from birth to adulthood, they are to be in absolute subjection to their parents. Children are to offer unquestioning obedience to their parents! When a child refuses to obey his/her parents, they are in effect refusing to submit to the Lord, (Col. 3:20)!

There were times in my youth when I disobeyed my parents and I was wrong for doing so. I wish I could go back now with what I know. I would try to be a model son. But, I can’t go back! You young people who are still living under your parent’s roof might want to reconsider just how you are treating them! If you aren’t holding them in high regard and respect, then you need to repent of that sin and do right by your parents.

It is discouraging, and frightening, to see a child or young person being disrespectful to their parents. It spells trouble down the road, and it shows a lack of regard for God. It is a sign of deeply rooted sinfulness. There is absolutely no excuse for any behavior that attacks, disrespects or dishonors one’s parents! It is a sign of ignorance and immaturity!

An Esteem To Render - As we grow older, we are continue to regard our parents with great respect. As children grow up, it is natural for them to leave their parent’s home, (Gen. 2:24). At this time, we are no longer under there direct authority. In other words, they aren’t there to tell us what to do day by day. Many are dreaming of that day right now! It isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!

Even though we leave their home and leave their authority, we are to still respect our parents and we are to call to mind the sacrifices they have made to bring us into the world and to nurture us to maturity. We should call to mind the long nights spent beside the sickbed. The many hours worked to provide food, shelter and clothing. We should remember the love dispensed in abundance for so little in return. Even though we are out from under their authority, we still owe them our respect.

They deserve nothing less! Jesus, He was the great example. As a 12 year old boy, He submitted Himself to His parents, (Luke 2:51). And, as a dying man, He remembered to honor His mother by seeing that she was cared for, (John 19:27).

A brother is selling his home and moving away just so he can be near his parents and be certain that they are getting the care they need. That is the spirit of this verse!

An Experience To Regard – Let me say a word about parental advise. Many young people simply refuse to hear what their parents tell them and as a result, they often experience trouble and hardship. Young people would do well to remember that parents speak from the experience gained by taking the hard knocks themselves. Their warnings are given to guide their children in the right path and to steer them past many of the obstacles of life.

Experience is far wiser than ignorance! It is an ignorant child that refuses the counsel of wise, experienced parents. Many are like this little girl - A youngster was very unhappy because her parents had refused her wishes. That evening her mother was amused to hear her pray, "Please, Lord, don't give her any more children; she doesn't know how to treat the ones she's got now!"

The attitude of children toward their parents changes as they grow older. During the teen years especially, some young people show little respect for their fathers and mothers. It's disheartening to see this. But as those young teenagers mature, they begin to recognize that Mom and Dad knew a lot more than they gave them credit for. Mark Twain once said, "When I was 14 years old, my father was so ignorant I hated to have the old man around. But when I was 21 years old, I was astonished to see how much my father had learned in only 7 years."

Sometimes young people come to realize with deep regret that if they had followed the counsel of their parents they could have avoided much heartache both for themselves and their family.

TODAY’S HYMN!
“God Give Us Christian Homes” By Baylus B. McKinney (1949)

1 God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master?s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

2 God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

3 God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

4 God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

THIS IS MY PRAYER!
O God, You are our God, and we want Your presence in our life more than anything else. We long for You the way we long for water in the dry heat of summer. We come to You to quench our spiritual thirst as only You can do. Flow Your rivers of living water into us so we can revive our soul, and then flow through us to others in this dry and thirsty world. Enable us to lift up Christ to this dying world. This we pray through Him, Amen!


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