Your Daily Devotional for October 17, 2007

 

October 17,  2007

 

 

Order in the Home

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

 

Ephesians 6:1-4

 

 

We are living in a society that not only has misplaced family values, but also has a diminishing respect for the family in general. The media seems to downplay the family and portray that happiness is found in a single, party-like lifestyle. The truth is that happiness is found in God's will!

 

We must not neglect the teaching of God's Word regarding children and the family. Psalm 127:3 says, "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." We must remember that God has given us a great gift in our children and He desires that we would steward that gift wisely. Today we will see how we can honor God and raise our children for Him by setting order in our homes.

 

Much of Ephesians 5 deals with the order of the home. Ephesians 5:17 shows us that Christ is the head of our homes, "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." We must understand His will and follow Him. Ephesians 5:18 also shows us that the Holy Spirit is the director of our home, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." We must let Him fill us and guide our lives. Also, we see in Ephesians 5:25 that the husband is to be the loving leader, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." We are to lovingly guide and direct our families as Christ guides and directs the church. And Ephesians 5:22 tells us that wives are to be loyal supporters of their husbands, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."  

 

We also see in our verses today the role of children in the order of the home.  Ephesians 6:1 says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." While the parents are to guide and lead the family, children are commanded to support their parents through obedience. If a child will obey, a parent must establish boundaries of authority. Many of today's parents seek to be their children's friend rather than their parent. Your child needs loving correction and guidance more than they need another buddy. God desires that you would set up biblical authority in your home to help your children obey.

 

A parent should offer a child love, acceptance, and guidance in the home, but we must not minimize the importance of authority in the home as well. Dr. John R. Rice once said, "The best way to get rid of criminals is to stop raising them." It is sad but many parents are failing to raise their children for the Lord because there is a lack of godly authority in their family. There is no biblical order in the home.

 

God has promised us that as we set order in our home and exert biblical authority, He will help us raise our children for Him. Proverbs 22:6 promises, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." God wants to help us in raising our children! We must seek His help in setting biblical authority in our homes.

 

Is there order in your home today? Is there a healthy balance of love and guidance? God desires that we help train our children through guidelines and authority. Take time today to ask God to help you establish order in your home. Ask Him to help you and your children respond correctly to biblical guidance and authority. Also, spend time with your children today. Show them that you love them but that there will also be a loving authority in their lives to help guide them. As you seek God each day, He will help you establish order in your home.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 50-52 • 1 Thessalonians 5

 

 

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