The First Commandment With A Promise

• How do you “honor” someone?

• Who do you honor in your life?

“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise.
Ephesians 6:2

In this verse, the apostle Paul reminds his young readers that God wants them to honor their parents. This commandment is first given in the Old Testament, and it is the first commandment given with a promise—”that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the lord your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 5:16). The mentioned “land” is the promised land, Canaan, which God promised to Abraham’s descendants.

This promise also applies to children today. Your parents were not given to you by accident. God has a plan for your family, and God chose your parents especially for you. He gave them the difficult task of teaching and training you to be a man or woman of God.

Your God-given job is to honor the parents you have. You do this by trusting that God will help your parents do their job, that your parents have your best interests at heart and that your parents know what is best for you.

But what if your parents have made some mistakes? No parent is perfect, but no matter what your parent has done, you still need to pray for them, love them as best you can and honor them by wanting what is best for them.

PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for parents. Please forgive us when we don’t honor and obey them. Please help us to love and honor you by loving and honoring them. Amen.