God's Call to Raise Obedient Children, Pt. 2

"The hard work of raising obedient children is a long, winding and uphill road. Because it often seems nearly impossible, it can bring parents to feel like giving up and letting the kids have their way. However, God provides a plan to help parents succeed in this critical task of great consequence." 

Isaac and Rebecca were an elderly couple with two sons. As Isaac was nearing death, he wanted to impart a spiritual blessing to his eldest son, Esau. Rebecca hearing of this, desperately wanted Jacob, her youngest son, to receive the blessing instead. She conspired with Jacob to deceive her husband and steal the blessing from her eldest son. The Bible shares about this ancient story, “So [Jacob] went into his father and said, ‘My father.’ And [Isaac] said, ‘Here I am. Who are you, my son?’ Jacob said to his father, ‘I am Esau your first-born.’” (Genesis 27:18-19) As the story unfolds, Jacob told lie after lie to his father, with ample opportunities to realize the wrong he was doing and stop. He was a grown man, who was responsible for his actions, but also influenced to do wrong by his mother. Jacob was clearly disobedient and dishonoring to his father, but later when Isaac learned about his son’s disobedience, he did nothing. The way Jacob was permitted to treat his father, is the way he lived many years of his life, until he eventually humbled himself before God and was changed.

The Bible says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1) The story illustrates the need for this command from God. For when it is not followed, it always is a set up for disaster in the home and for the future of the child.

The Creator knows the heart of people and the society in which they live. Each person is born in sin, with an instinctive propensity to rebel against God and other forms of authority, beginning with their own parents. As children develop, this becomes more and more evident. Complicating this, each child is also raised with parents who are the same way, and is part of a larger society that is also the same. The Bible predicts that in the time before Jesus returns people throughout the world will be “proud, arrogant, abusive [and] disobedient to their parents . . .” (1 Timothy 3:2).

God knows the task of raising obedient children is a long, winding and uphill road. Because it often seems nearly impossible, it can bring parents to feel like giving up and letting the kids have their way. Therefore, God gives a plan to help parents succeed with practical guidance saying, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4) 

1. Dads should lead in the spiritual instruction of the children. In cases where a dad refuses, is absent or has died, this is the mother’s role. God is clear on this, parents are in charge of the home, not the children. 

2. Do not stir up your kids to anger. When parents ignore, threaten, yell, curse or hit their kids to get them to obey it only serves a ball of fire to them, which will be hit back with great force in the moment or in the future. 

3. Raise your children on God’s Word. The Bible is a parent’s curriculum for spiritual instruction. Help your children to read it, memorize it, study it, pray it, learn it and ultimately; do what it says. If you feel inadequate, admit it and walk together with your children on this. The Bible has an answer for every problem your child will face, continually point them to it. 

4. A divine promise to children who persevere to the end. God states, “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Eph. 6:3) This ancient Hebrew expression communicates the promise of God’s continual presence, provision and power to children who walk faithfully with the Lord God through trusting in His glorious Son.

A prayer for you – “Lord God, help parents to know whatever obstacle they face in teaching their children to obey, you can overcome. Persuade them to teach their children the Bible day-by-day, and fill parents with all manner of love and humility for this work. May families walk according to your conditions to have your promise poured out on them in great measure. In Jesus name. Amen."

Gods Call to Raise Obedient Children, Pt 1

"It seems like common sense that children should be taught to obey, but why? Because it produces order in the home, sows seeds of love and respect, teaches children to rule themselves, lays the foundation for an orderly society and prepares children to know God. Although teaching obedience is hard, for the good of our children, family and community, lets accept God’s call to do this difficult but rewarding work."

Eli was a priest that served the Lord God. He had two sons that served with him, who were perverse in all their ways. Eli knew of his sons’ misconduct, but only confronted them after the complaining of all the people became great. Eli angrily said to them “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.” (1 Samuel 2:23) The sons refused to listen, but persisted in their corruptible behavior. Eventually, God’s patience ran out when He declared about Eli, “. . . I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.” (1 Sam. 3:13)

God has a direct word for all sons and daughters, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord. For this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1) This was something Eli’s sons needed to hear. God has a word for parents too, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4) Children need to be taught obedience and done so in a spirit of love. This was something Eli obviously did not do, but needed to hear.

It seems like common sense that children should be taught to obey, but why? 

1. It produces order in the home. Obedient children create a peaceful, unified and productive household. 

2. It sows seeds of love and respect. When children obey their parents, it demonstrates love and respect (or honor) for their father and mother, establishing the framework for a healthy relationship with them. 

3. It teaches children to rule themselves. When children are told to do something by their parents, there is often natural resistance. A child has to overcome this resistance in order to obey. When children learn this, they learn to control their inner self in order to do what needs to be done. This teaches the child self-control. 

4. It lays the foundation for an orderly society. If there is order in the home through children obeying their parents, that will affect other relationships. If children show love and respect to their parents, this will likely affect their relationships with other siblings, their grandparents, school teachers, coaches, bosses and co-workers. If children were never taught to obey, then all those relationships will be touched by varying degrees of chaos, division, lack of trust and conflict. These are a few of many reasons to teach a child to obey. The last is the most important though. 

5. It prepares children to know God. The relationship between parents and children is a picture of a relationship between God and mankind. When parents do the hard work of lovingly teaching a child to obey, they are showing their son or daughter what a covenant relationship with God is like.

He requires faithful obedience to His commands. The very first one is to repent, turning from one’s sinful ways, and trusting in Jesus. After that first command, there are others. If children are taught obedience in the home, it prepares them to humble themselves and follow Christ.

Reading this as a son or daughter, and humbling ourselves before our parents can be difficult, especially if there is a history of conflict. Reading this as a parent is challenging too. Everyone knows that teaching obedience to a defiant child is not for the weak-minded.

I end with this statement from God, who declared a powerful truth about faithfully and lovingly instructing children to obey, “For this is right.” (Eph. 6:1). Although teaching obedience is hard at times, is the right thing to do. For the good of your child, your family, your community, accept God’s call to raise obedient children – it is the right thing to do.

A prayer for you – “Lord God, I pray you will give parents the moral determination to face the daily challenge of teaching their children to obey that it would go well with their kids when they grow up. And I pray you will help all of us, as sons and daughters, to obey your command to repent and place our trust in Christ. In Jesus name. Amen."

Has The Resurrection Lost Its Relevance?

"Religious people can hear about the resurrection so often, they are in danger of losing the significance of it, where it is no longer meaningful. Instead, it becomes something they just routinely sing about, hear the preacher sermonize on and take communion in remembrance of."

What if Jesus’ resurrection never happened?  What if He died on the cross, but Sunday never came and He remained dead?  

I have been going to church and hearing about Jesus’ resurrection since I was three.  Religious people like me can hear about it so often, that we are in danger of losing the significance of it, where it is no longer meaningful.  Instead, it can become something we just routinely sing about, hear the preacher sermonize on and take communion in remembrance of.  

One of Jesus’ chosen messengers was Paul, whom wrote to a group of Christians saying, “. . . if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”  (1 Corinthians 15:17) Paul wrote this to remind a group of established believers, how the resurrection is the foundation of their faith.  Without it, their faith would be futile, meaning all their religious beliefs and practices surrounding Christ would be absolutely meaningless on a practical level.  All their church attendance and ministry activity would just be for the feeling of it or the general good it does, but outside of that, it would be of zero spiritual value.  These believers had lost the impact of this cardinal Christian doctrine.                

What difference does the resurrection make?  Let me ask it this way.  What if Jesus had not been raised from the dead?  Then all biblical preaching and teaching surrounding Christ would be a lie.  The Bible itself would be a lie.  The very existence of the Lord God would be a lie.  Jesus’ teachings and miracles would be a lie.  His claim of being deity would be a lie.  Your conversion to Christ would not be real, but simply a spiritual experience.  Your daily walk with Jesus would be a delusion.  Your sins would have never been forgiven, meaning you would still be guilty and unacceptable before God, remaining under the penalty of eternal death.  None of your friends or loved ones who died and had trusted in Christ, would be in heaven.  If Jesus had not been raised from the dead, then all humanity is condemned to one hopeless outcome.  Everlasting destruction.          

But praise God none of this is so.  According to the Scriptures, “. . . in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.”  (1 Cor. 15:20) Additionally, Peter, one of Jesus’ closest followers testified before a crowd of people, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32).  The stone before Jesus’ tomb was rolled away so His followers could see inside.  There was no body.  It was empty.  Christ was not there.  He had risen!  He.  Is.  Alive!

All around us are people who lie, deceive and manipulate.  Professions and people we once trusted, we are skeptical of.  Distrust abounds everywhere.  Greatest of all, for many it has become a lifestyle without remorse.  This arouses God’s anger.  He detests liars and condemns them to the eternal fire meant for the Devil and His demons.  

But God is not a liar, nor is His Son.  Every letter of Jesus’ Words is true and the fact He has risen from the dead proves it.  Furthermore, His teachings are true.  His miracles are true.  Indeed, He is God in human form.  He truly did provide for the forgiveness of our sins.  Our guilt and shame can be removed.  He has paid the penalty we rightly deserved.  Our faith is not in vain.   Eternal life can be ours.  The hope of heaven is real.  And one day, Jesus is coming back again!  

In a world where you do not know who or what to believe anymore, there is One whom you can trust.  There is One whom has never lied, nor ever will.  His name is Jesus, and He has risen from the dead that you might believe in Him with all your heart.    

A prayer for you - "Lord God, I pray you will open our spiritual eyes to the realities of the resurrection.  Show us what this means.  Teach us.  Give us fresh understanding today.  And if there is someone who has never turned from their sins, bring them to yield fully to you and be washed clean by the power of your Holy Spirit.  In Jesus name.  Amen."  (Photo by Fr. Daniel Ciucci on Unsplash)