Honouring Our Parents

 Audio for HONOURING OUR PARENTS

 We may have much to learn from the generations that preceded us.  Sometimes they made mistakes and perhaps did not parent us well but, how does God want us to respect and learn about life through our parents, in spite of their imperfections? 

 Pay attention to your father, and don’t neglect your mother when she grows old. Invest in truth and wisdom, discipline and good sense, and don’t part with them. Make your father truly happy by living right and showing sound judgment. Make your parents proud, especially your mother.  (Proverbs 23:22-25 CEV)

 When the 10 Commandments were given to God’s people the fifth one carried a wonderful promise for those who fulfilled it.  Respect your father and your mother, and you will live a long time in the land I am giving you.  (Exodus 20:12 CEV)

 The pattern for living that Jesus demonstrated was one which gave priority to listening to and obeying His Father.  Jesus said: For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.  (John 6:38 NLT) God expressed His pleasure in His son as Jesus lived in the wisdom that came from their times of shared prayer.  At Jesus’ baptism God spoke these words, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. (Matthew 3:17 NLT)

 No human relationship is perfect.  We don’t have to have perfect parents to honour them as God intends.  We can learn from their wisdom and their mistakes.  We can give them joy by allowing them to see us rise above life’s difficulties to live with dignity and compassion.  Why not make our parents proud today by following God’s word and living right?  They will be proud of us as we show sound judgment in our decision making.  If it is possible, let’s make it a priority today to build healthy relationships with our parents. 

 Prayer:  Gracious God, Thank you for being our Heavenly Father and for giving us life through our biological parents.  Fill us with Your love so that we can live in a respectful way that honours You, our parents, and those around us.  Amen

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