Good day dear friends. Let us join together in prayer.
"Gracious God, we're thankful for this day. We hear the sound of rain and the rumbling of thunder in the distance. Even before we leave our homes, we know you're busy among us. Rain on us the steady fall of grace; rumble among the challenges we may face with your power. Assure us of your presence and grant us your peace. We pray in Christ's name. Amen.
Here is our study guide:
Thursday: Read Ephesians 6:1-9.
6:1 Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. 2 "Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, 3 "so you will live well and have a long life." 4 Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. 5 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. 6 Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. 7 And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. 8 Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. 9 Masters, it's the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them. (The Message)
What is God’s word saying about parenting in these verses? How can you apply from that passage to your children? Make that a prayer for today and tomorrow.
Time Out vs. Spanking. Age-old debate. How hard is "too hard?" How soft is too soft? As Nellie and I have grown older and share conversation with our daughters they've revealed a lot about our discipline. We laugh about it now, worried then about how they would turn out, and if they would love us after each episode. One incident was when we sent two of them to a room to "think about what you did." One revealed that she went unwillingly with her sister and throught about what had happened. She said, "Hmm, she made me mad and I hit her. Not bad! That's what I needed to do! Okay, 'time to think' over!"
The word in God's word for today features the word "honor." As a teenager I had been taught in Sunday school and in church that we were supposed to "obey" our parents. There were times when I felt that "obeying" was not right and that I was in violation of God's word because I was sinning against God and my parents. Of course I know now as a parent they were right, but in the spirit of rebellion I questioned whether they could ever know anything. Honor is that word that says we should place the proper and upmost respect towards our parents. Honor seeks to share that respect in a visible way. The Commandment, as the writer says, is the first to come with a promise. And in this passage parents are urged to live a life that honors the child in the proper way. How you choose to define "Coming down hard" for your children is between you and God, but it should be done with love and respect. And you should definitely seek to have your children treat you the parents with that same love and respect.
PRAYER: Loving Father, we thank you for the honor of being your children. Let us love and respect you in all things especially in our relationship with those who are important to us. We pray that we would lead by example and show the light of Christ in us in all things and at all times. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
