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Ephesians 6:1-6 is a passage that speaks to the importance of obedience and honor in our relationships with our parents and employers - in other words, authority figures. God designed the dynamic of these relationships to be for our benefit and to bring us closer to Him.

The Bible refers to us as children of God. As God’s children, we are called to obey our Heavenly Father. This obedience should flow out of our love and reverence for God. When we obey our parents, we are showing respect for authority and for the people who have been placed in our lives to love and care for us. We are also setting a good example for our own children, who will one day be in the same position. This is not only the right thing to do, but it is also a command from our Father that comes with a promise. The Bible says that we obey “so that it may go well with you and that you may live long on the earth" (verse 3). This is not a guarantee of a trouble-free life, but rather a promise that the best way to relate to authority figures in our lives is by following the design that God shows us.

Paul then says that parents, on the other hand, are called to bring up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. This means that we should be teaching our children about God and His ways, and modeling for them obedience to God’s authority. We should not discourage them or cause them to lose heart, but rather encourage them to grow in their faith and relationship with God.

Finally, our relationships with our employers should be marked by obedience and respect. Our motivation should not solely be to please our employers or gain their favor, but to honor God in all that we do. As we prioritize our relationship with God and seek to live out our faith in the workplace, we will find that our relationships with our employers become more fulfilling and rewarding.

Overall, we should care about the way we approach authority because God cares about how we approach authority, and the life following His commands is the best life we can live.

Prayer Points

• Pray for strength and wisdom to honor God in your obedience to authority figures in your life.
• Pray for those that you know in positions of authority to lead with love and kindness.