In Ephesians 6:1-3 children are told to obey their parents as in the Lord. In verse 2 they are specifically told, “Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise.” The promise comes in verse 3. It says, “That it may go well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
If you are a child, and we all are because we are here, you must honor your parents no matter what you think of them. God wants things to go well for us, and for that starts with each of us having a healthy dose of honor and respect for our parents, no matter our circumstances.
I am a husband and a father. I don’t just want my kids to honor me, I want to be the type of father whom they would love to honor. I don’t want to make it hard for them, I want to make it easy for them to obey the one Word from God that promises them a long life where things go well for them.
But this is difficult because all around us we have examples of fathers and parents who struggle at being the types of people anyone would want to honor. When I consider my own parents, I recall that I never had a single occasion where my father and I were angry towards one another. We had a great relationship. He tried to be a great father, and I tried to be a great son. But that isn’t enough to earn honor.
The only example we have of the type of Father God wants us to be is found in God Himself. So this Father’s Day, let’s think of being the type of Father that Jesus speaks of in the prayer He teaches His disciples in Matthew 6:8. Jesus says:
“Our Father Who is in heaven.” Heaven is a great place, and we know God the Father lives there. We should be the type of fathers that makes it easy for our children to always know where they stand and where they live.
“Hallowed by Thy name.” The greatest honor is found in God’s name. Fathers should live in a way that brings honor to themselves and others.
“Give us this day our daily bread.” God the father is our selfless provider. Fathers should be selfless providers for their children.
“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” God is ready to forgive us of the things we owe Him. Fathers should always be ready to forgive people who are indebted to them. Fathers owe their children more than their children will ever owe them.
“Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” God the father is our best example. He leads us in the right ways to the right places, and He teaches us how to govern ourselves.
Fathers should lead their children by their example, keeping themselves away from temptations and away from things that are evil. Your children will learn from the things the father learns.
As we acknowledge Father’s Day this year, let this be the year that you fathers commit more to live in such a way that your children would find it a joy to honor you for the life that you live before them.
God the Father is the greatest example of a father we can have. Let’s make it a desire that each father here on earth will be the next greatest example of a father their children can have.
Live a Delivered Life. Love you.
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