Loving God of mercy, protection and comfort, bless the needs of this dear reader in all they may face today, in Christ Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Ephesians 6:1-9: 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"—this is the first commandment with a promise: 3 "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." 4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ; 6 not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, 8 knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free. 9 And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.
The mission of the family includes the children. As a family raises up their children, they should involve the child(ren) in the mission and purpose of Whose they are and what they are about. For God, the family unit serves as not only a training ground but also holy or sacred ground. Most of the OT worship centers around what is celebrated and rememberd in the home. The act of deliverance from slavery was celebrated in the home; the sacrifice of the unblemished lamb, the marking of the door posts was done on the doors of the home, and the eating of the Passover meal was done in the home. Paul encourages children (the Children's Sermon of the day?) to be obedient to parents and to remember the Commandment that said to "Honor your father and mother," reminding them that "this is the first commandment with a promise: 'so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.'" Fathers were urged not to provoke children to anger but rather to encourage them to an obedient and faithful life to the Lord.
The references to slaves is reminder of an ancient (thank God) practice that was common in Paul's day. Slaves were property and were treated and mistreated as such. Paul's teaching is to promote their wellbeing in reminding them that if we serve our earthly master as we seek to serve God it would go well with us. Yet masters (owners) of the slaves were urged to treat slaves in the same way.
Paul knows that in every aspect of our lives and in the lives of those with whom we live should involve God. If God is real and present in our homes everyone will know and be blessed by that knowledge. From the oldest to the youngest in every family, there should be a sense of exactly who we are in our faith and devotion. Is it evidence in your home?
PRAYER: Loving God I pray asking for my needs as a member of a family that You might share with me exactly that which I need to be more faithful to You, to making You real and present in my life in such a way that those around me will desire the same. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
------Prayer Needs: My younger brother is in an area of conflict overseas. I ask your prayers in his wellbeing and safety during the days he's there on assignment with our government. Also, please be in prayer for the families of those killed in the earthquake in Haiti. As UMs we suffered three losses that I'm aware of: Rev. Clinton Rabb of our conference who worked with the Board of Global Ministries; Rev. Sam Dixon, chief executive of UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and Jean Arnwine of Highland Park UMC of Dallas who was on a medical mission team working in an eye clinic that this church sponsors every year. I don't know of funeral arrangments for Rev. Rabb but as soon as they are known I will share those.
