God’s Blueprint for Your Home a 6-Day Devotion by Sue AfutuSample

A Child’s Obedience

I am an African and grew up in Ghana, in an era where spanking children was a popular way of disciplining disobedient children. As a child, I was caned by my teachers, parents and even once by an uncle! Things have changed now concerning what teachers in schools can do with respect to discipline. Nevertheless, don’t you worry, I am not about to engage you in a spanking debate. What I want to talk about is children’s obedience to their parents.

The verse for our consideration today makes an emphatic statement that many will stagger at. Children are to obey their parents in all things. Wow! In today's culture of child rights and empowerment, you may wonder how to interpret this verse.

God requires children to honor their parents in the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12). Ephesians 6:1 puts it slightly differently by saying, “Children obey your parents in the Lord because this is right”. The Apostle Paul gave this admonition to Christian households and so what is being contemplated here are godly instructions from believing parents. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Anytime someone pleases the Lord, they attract His favor. David pleased the Lord and attracted His favor and so did Solomon. When children obey their parents, they please Him and attract His favor too.

Not only is it proper, but there are also benefits to children for obeying or doing this. These instructions shall preserve them and guide them along life’s way (Proverbs 6: 20-23). Children are born innocent and gullible and God expects that their caregivers will guide and protect them.

However, it must be quickly added that this verse does not anticipate that parents will make unreasonable demands of their children, as the focal verse for tomorrow will show.

Around the world today, there is a move to disempower parents and empower children through policies, laws and social interventions. Inasmuch as the child’s interest appears to be considered in all of these, we must be careful not to distort the divine order.

Reflection:‬‬‬‬‬‬

Ask the Lord to show you ways you can reform your parenting as a result of this insight.

Prayer:

Lord, we pray for your wisdom to guide our governments so that they will cooperate with parents to create safe communities for our children in Jesus’ name. Amen.