EPHESIANS 6:1-9
EPHESIANS 6:1-9
New International Version
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
EPHESIANS 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
REFLECTION
Whether you are a parent or not, we are all children. Most importantly, we are children made in the image of God. This passage gets a little bit tricky when your parent is not God-fearing or God-honoring. But this is what we know is true: we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us had to be taught how to be disobedient, but we did, in fact, have to be taught obedience. The parent must teach obedience because we do not stumble into it. With obedience to Christ, we are all called to show the grace we have received from Him. Today, show grace to your parents and honor them with obedience because the Word of God says, “this is right.”
RESPONSE
What was it like the first time you remember being disobedient to your parents?
How do you feel when others honor you with obedience?
How much more would your parents or caregivers be honored by your obedience?
Why do you think God set it up this way?
