Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother "which is the first commandment with a promise that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Ephesians 6:14
www.bibletourwithjoline.com/dailydevotions.asp
www.bibletourwithjoline.blogspot.com
What is authority? It is the right to give instructions and require obedience. Almost immediately after birth, children insist on doing their own thing, being their own person, and having their own way. As I often hear when they get older, "I don't want anybody telling me what to do” or “it is my life, I should be able to make my own decisions”. They want the power to control their own lives and this defying attitude and complete rejection of authority is especially obvious in today’s family. Books, movies and televisions hardly ever portray fathers as the head of the household, they often share authority equally with the wives, or else they are dominated and manipulated by spouses, and the scary factor is that Child welfare agencies in this country believe these modern views. They try to convince parents that they have no right to exercise firm leadership or else; consequently, parents are afraid to exercise their God given authority over the children by fear of being thrown in jail or the constant risk of losing them to foster care. As a result, the children, not the parents, end up being the dominant influence in the home.
1 Corinthians 11:3 says that the head of the woman is the man, just as the head of man is Christ, and Ephesians 5:22-24 tells us that the wife should obey her husband as the church should obey Christ. Parents cannot even expect children to respect their authority, until the parents correct their own relationship toward each other. Children will not respect the father's authority, if he cannot maintain authority over his wife. Nor will they respect the mother's authority, if she refuses to respect her husband's authority, it is that simple. Parents have to be able to relate to each other, before they can even relate to their children. In the Old Testament a rebellious son, who would not obey his parents, was to be stoned (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). People start getting uncomfortable when we start discussing obedience, (even church people) but it all comes from the word of God. Both parents and children were made by God. He knows what is best for all. These views may seem strict and outrageous to the world but Christians should seriously ask themselves whether or not they should be influenced by society or God, their maker.
Eli told his sons they were wrong and but it wasn't enough. They still would not obey. God rejected Eli's house because Eli did not restrain his sons, He had no authority over them (1 Samuel 2:22-25; 3:12,13). Friend you cannot risk losing control of your home. The main reason children grow up rebellious is simply that they have not been properly required to submit to authority (their parents) while growing up, and they get away with it; as a results, they carry the same non-challant attitude in their adults life which brings devastating results. They often live miserable lives and they have to continuously struggle with submitting to authority. That is exactly why parents should exercise authority over the children. It is done for the good of the child. It teaches lessons that will be of a great benefit both now and for eternity, and parents who do not want to guide their children properly often live to regret it. This is why use of authority is not contrary to love but is a proper exercise of love.
Friend, you are trying to raise godly children. The ultimate goal of your authority is to teach them respect for God's authority from an early age. You should expect your children to obey you like God will expect them to obey Him, and if your children have not learned to obey you like they should obey God, then you have work to do. God says it your job to teach it to them.
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Colossians 3:20
Praise the Lord!
www.bibletourwithjoline.com/dailydevotions.asp
www.bibletourwithjoline.blogspot.com
What is authority? It is the right to give instructions and require obedience. Almost immediately after birth, children insist on doing their own thing, being their own person, and having their own way. As I often hear when they get older, "I don't want anybody telling me what to do” or “it is my life, I should be able to make my own decisions”. They want the power to control their own lives and this defying attitude and complete rejection of authority is especially obvious in today’s family. Books, movies and televisions hardly ever portray fathers as the head of the household, they often share authority equally with the wives, or else they are dominated and manipulated by spouses, and the scary factor is that Child welfare agencies in this country believe these modern views. They try to convince parents that they have no right to exercise firm leadership or else; consequently, parents are afraid to exercise their God given authority over the children by fear of being thrown in jail or the constant risk of losing them to foster care. As a result, the children, not the parents, end up being the dominant influence in the home.
1 Corinthians 11:3 says that the head of the woman is the man, just as the head of man is Christ, and Ephesians 5:22-24 tells us that the wife should obey her husband as the church should obey Christ. Parents cannot even expect children to respect their authority, until the parents correct their own relationship toward each other. Children will not respect the father's authority, if he cannot maintain authority over his wife. Nor will they respect the mother's authority, if she refuses to respect her husband's authority, it is that simple. Parents have to be able to relate to each other, before they can even relate to their children. In the Old Testament a rebellious son, who would not obey his parents, was to be stoned (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). People start getting uncomfortable when we start discussing obedience, (even church people) but it all comes from the word of God. Both parents and children were made by God. He knows what is best for all. These views may seem strict and outrageous to the world but Christians should seriously ask themselves whether or not they should be influenced by society or God, their maker.
Eli told his sons they were wrong and but it wasn't enough. They still would not obey. God rejected Eli's house because Eli did not restrain his sons, He had no authority over them (1 Samuel 2:22-25; 3:12,13). Friend you cannot risk losing control of your home. The main reason children grow up rebellious is simply that they have not been properly required to submit to authority (their parents) while growing up, and they get away with it; as a results, they carry the same non-challant attitude in their adults life which brings devastating results. They often live miserable lives and they have to continuously struggle with submitting to authority. That is exactly why parents should exercise authority over the children. It is done for the good of the child. It teaches lessons that will be of a great benefit both now and for eternity, and parents who do not want to guide their children properly often live to regret it. This is why use of authority is not contrary to love but is a proper exercise of love.
Friend, you are trying to raise godly children. The ultimate goal of your authority is to teach them respect for God's authority from an early age. You should expect your children to obey you like God will expect them to obey Him, and if your children have not learned to obey you like they should obey God, then you have work to do. God says it your job to teach it to them.
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Colossians 3:20
Praise the Lord!
