The older that I get, and the more I experience in life, the more I see that there is always two paths we as people can take. On one hand there is great temptation to do evil works in this world. Within this there is always someone who will be ready to tempt us, taunting us, scare, and even bully us in order that we might give up, walk away, and leave God. On the other hand there is the intrinsic reward of doing the lord’s work. This consists of the overpowering awareness deep within our hearts that opens our eyes, and senses to the wonders, and mysteries of God. The inescapable belief which is made manifested by the emotional outcry, and flood of feelings that is so completely satisfying it makes us want to do good over, and over again. I have always been mystified to why people chose the ways of the world as it is incomplete, and leads to damnation. I have always tried to live an honest, simple, and peaceful life, and I have not always succeeded in those in devours, though I have never stopped trying.
I open up this week with a topic that is very close to my own heart and one that I wanted everyone to understand, as this is where we all begin our journey as human beings. For no matter what the situation you may find yourself as children of God we have one obligation. That is to tell others about him, teach our children about him, so that he may be glorified, and all those whom we tell might be saved because of him. As a parent I know there is no other greater responsibility than to raise my child up in the name of the Lord. But this is a two-way-street, as all children at some point strikeout on their own and must make their own decisions and therefore must reap the consequences, be them good or bad, positive or negative. So I thought it only proper to explain the special relationship bestowed upon all children and their parents, as this relationship is the starting point in our lives as it models closely the relationship we are born to have with God.
So it is commanded of all children to:
(Ephesians Chapter 6:1-3) 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
(Leviticus Chapter 19: 3) 3Everyone of you shall revere his mother and father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.”
In fact there are over 736,000 references listed on the internet, which are linked to Bible passages, all explaining the importance of obeying and honoring our parents, and yet there are so many children today who are filled with condemnation and hatred for their parents. One can say there is an open rebellion in our society of children rebelling against one, or both of their parents, which reflects the open rebellion man has against God. With that said I wanted to draw attention to the importance of this commandment God has laid out for all children, to honor, obey, and love your parents.
To that end I often times would tell my child as the years past that it was important to: “Love both of your parents equally, and to know who we are as people, for we both make mistakes.”
This is especially true to those children who are being raised in broken homes, where one parent has the majority of custody. In these situations it can become confusing for the child, or children, to which parent to love, to honor, to respect, and to bond with. Parents often times get wrapped up in the day to day struggles that the most important things have been taken either for granted, or forgotten all together, which is to raise your children knowing the Lord our God. In reflection, for this commandment to work, we must keep in mind and close to our hearts that all children are gifts from God, and that all children have an inherent need to love both of their parents. Hence it takes two to conceive a child, and it takes two to raise a child.
(Proverbs Chapter 20:11) 11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
The book of Proverbs was written and is closely linked by King Solomon, though most of the book is thought to have been written by a group of wise men, for the purpose of passing down prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young, and to make the wise even wiser. However its contents are filled with rich and relevant lessons for everyone of ever age. In this passage we find that even our children are held accountable for their actions, as so are adults. This goes back to the idea that we are all sinners in the eyes of God, and that we all must atone for our own sins. This passage also gives a grave warning which must not be misunderstood, or ignored. Though our children will be known by his or her deeds, it is up to his or her parents to have instructed the child to do good deeds in the first place, and to have been told or warned that they will be held accountable.
This can be best illustrated in the following scripture.
(Proverbs Chapter 22:6) 6Train up a child in the way he should go; and then he old, he will not depart from it.
(Proverbs Chapter 29:17) 17Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
In this, God created it so that the parents role is one of protector, and disciplinarian, to correct, guide, and teach their children as they see fit, as long as it is in accordance to God’s will. The nexus that we face and that every civilization has faced from the being has been that children need their parents to educate them in the ways of God, and parents have this sacred duty to perform. Respect, honor, and loyalty is also a major part of the equation, as children learn these things from their parents and the relationship they see modeled in the home. If the parents do not strike this equal balance in their own relationship, then their children have no base-line in which to honor, or respect others, let alone themselves. They then become lost and are more susceptible to commit evil acts, and in general become absent and devoid of God. This is a sin, and as a parent, we are as much accountable as that of our children who find themselves in this situation.
(Ephesians Chapter 6:4) 4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
(Colossians Chapter 3:21) 21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
I end this reflection with this scripture from Jesus Christ our Lord and savior; found in the Lost Gospel Q, (pg70)
Q36 “Who among you would hand his son a stone when he has asked you for bread? Who would hand him a snake when its fish he’s asking for? If you, who are imperfect, know how to give good things to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give to you when you ask.”
Amen.
May peace be with you all the days of your life? If you have been moved by this blog I invite you to become a follower, and learn to Listen Faithfully to our Lord Jesus Christ.