Here is today’s devotion from the Sportsmens Devotional.
This past weekend I had my step son graduate high school. I think about all the horror stories I hear about teenagers. Then I think about my step son. I am truly lucky to have a kid that I never had to worry about doing something stupid. I never had to worry about if he was drunk, stoned, or out doing other things he shouldn’t be doing. Of course he did the typical boy stuff like, driving to fast, going down roads that his car was not meant to be and ripping the exhaust system off and tearing his oil pan.
Although all in all he was a great kid. He taught his mom and myself with great respect. He has grown into a fine young man that loves the Lord. This devotion reminded me of my experiences and life with my step son over the past six years. Without the Lord helping his mother and I this would not have been possible.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”– which is the first commandment with a promise–”that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.” (NIV)
Have you ever watched a wild animal with its young, maybe in person or on an outdoors show on TV? There is no question that the young do what momma says; they do it, or very probably die. And when mother speaks, the young obey right now! So, let’s apply that to mankind. God said to honor our parents, that we’ll be blessed for doing so. Notice, it doesn’t say anything about obedience. It’s just a given–if you honor your parents you’ll also obey them. Now, let’s talk about our relationship with our heavenly Father. If we’re to honor our earthly parents, isn’t it much more important to honor our heavenly Father, God, with our absolute love and obedience? And, isn’t it also true, that if we don’t honor God, if we don’t obey Him, and accept His gift of forgiveness for our sins, that we’ll die? God loves us as no other parent can, even those of us whose parents loved us more than anything else. He loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place. He deserves complete honor!
Godly parents are a gift. Honor them every day of your life. Honor God, as He is our heavenly Father, and gave us the greatest gift of all–eternal life through Jesus Christ, His one and only Son!
If you want your children to treat you with honor, you need to be honorable. Follow your personal “hunter’s code of ethics”, and set an example for your kids to follow.
