This post is Day 8 in a series of studies about “Commandments”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Commandments – Day 8

Most of us would not connect living for a long time with whether or not we honour our parents. But for God, and the Israelites in the desert when these laws were given, it was a lesson in obedience, and a question of basic respect.

Exodus 20:12

Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

The Thought

Most of us would not connect living for a long time with whether or not we honour our parents. But for God, and the Israelites in the desert when these laws were given, it was a lesson in obedience. A question of basic respect. Not just a question of living a long time, but living a long time in a happy family, and in the right place! For the Israelites wandering in the desert that spoke of their promised land.

The verb to honour someone seems to be no longer in our everyday vocabulary, at least in western Europe where I live. We associate that word more with a special award received from a president or from royalty, given for a specific contribution to society. People who have risked their lives to save someone else, or to bless a whole people group, receive honour from a leader. Scientists are honoured for new discoveries. Soldiers are honoured for bravery. Sometimes a member of their family receive that honour even after the death of the brave person.

Paul reminds the church of this commandment we are thinking about today, in his closing chapter of the letter to the Ephesians. He reminds them that this is the first commandment with a promise (Ephesians 6:2).

Action

Read Ephesians 6 today and take note of Paul’s reminders to his readers. Challenge yourself to do better in whichever area you feel you are not doing too well. Pray asking Jesus to inspire your improvements, and help you do better.

Pray for those around you who you can see are not honouring their parents. Also pray for runaway children and rebellious teenagers, and for whole families to make Jesus Lord of their lives.

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