Message summary: Today let us make a renewed resolve to faithfully obey the Fifth Commandment to honor our father and mother. For children this is expressed by obeying our parents. For adults it's expressed by living a life that will bring them honor.

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"Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12).

Yesterday was Mother's Day, which along with Father's Day, is set aside to practice the 5th Commandment, although we suppose few consider it that way in our increasingly Biblically illiterate age.

We had a very moving presentation in our church (not your typical Mother's Day sentiment). Four women in the same family (a grandmother, mother, daughter and daughter-in-law) gave brief descriptions of women who have experienced challenging roles in their motherhood experience; some joyful, others sad. An individual flower was laid in the basket to honor each of them. To watch the video click on the photo below or we also post a link to the video below in our resource section.


"Honor thy father and mother", is the first Commandment dealing with human relations, our responsibility to other people. It really is foundational to the remaining commandments. If this commandment is obeyed the others will very likely fall into place. The human race is blessed, both in the short-term and long-term when this commandment is practiced. When the Apostle Paul quoted this portion in Ephesians 6 he follows with this promise, “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Ephesians 6:3).

What a blessing to observe this commandment when it is obeyed.  And yet it is increasingly violated or virtually ignored by many. And of course in just the last several years we have seen the abominable redefinition of marriage and parenting.

Sam Rohrer, the President of American Pastor's Network makes this observation:


Honor describes the disposition out of which obedience is born. In other words, obedience is the duty, honor is the disposition. To honor one's parents means to show them respect and love, to care for them as long as they need, and to seek to honor them by the way one lives. We believe this expression of honor is not only through our childhood but also all through our lives, including the years following their death.

The fifth commandment is so important that God attaches the inherent motivation of a promise, because this commandment is the key to all human relationships and the passing on of a righteous heritage. God designed the family and if this commandment is not "functioning", that design will be disturbed. Witness the dissolution of the family in America, one cause being the failure of children to obey this important command! (Precept Commentary)

Today let us resolve to faithfully obey the Fifth Commandment to honor our father and mother. For children this is expressed as we obey our parents. To adults this is expressed when we live a life that will bring our parents honor as we uphold respect toward the family name. An even harder commission for some is to bring honor to the family name which has been tarnished by an errant parent(s). "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1).


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, Your perfect design for creating a family started with Adam and Eve. You gave them tremendous responsibility as parents to raise their children as responsible individuals who would in turn raise their children in the same way. And so your order continues to our own generation. At the heart of our family relations the fifth commandment indicates that we're to honor our father and mother which includes a promise that we'll live long full lives. When we honor our parents, Lord, we also honor You and show appreciation for Your marvelous workmanship in our lives. We acknowledge that You ordained the family of our origin and we give thanks to You for our mother and father, brothers and sisters. Make us a blessing to them as the Fruit of the Spirit continues to grow in our lives and is played out in our relations to them. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Have you told your mom and dad that you love them lately? If not, please do so and let them know of their powerful input in your life. I believe God's command that we honor our parents is in effect all our lives. Don't procrastinate! As life progresses and we look back it will never be something we regret.

Some of you have strained relations and communication is difficult at best. Maybe you've not felt appreciation or love toward your parent(s) for more years than you can remember. Perhaps you had to make the very difficult choice in obeying God rather than obeying your parent(s) as many have been put in this conflicting position. Due to deep hurts or, for some readers, you have been painfully rejected over the years in your stand for righteousness. May God give you innovative ways to show respect to His command in spite of your experience. Do it as unto God and He will bless your endeavor. It will also serve as an example to your own children and others whom you seek to influence.

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Calvary Church Mother's Day presentation of honor  Video

Here is the script of the presentation:

• To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you.
• To those who lost a child this year—we mourn with you.
• To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains—we appreciate you.
• To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions or running away—we mourn with you.
• To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears and disappointment—we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make things harder.
• To those who are foster moms, mentor moms and spiritual moms—we need you.
• To those who have warm and close relationships with your children—we celebrate with you.
• To those who have disappointment, heartache and distance with your children—we sit with you.
• To those who lost their mothers this year—we grieve with you.
• To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother—we acknowledge your experience.
• To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests and the overall testing of motherhood—we are better for having you in our midst.
• To those who have aborted children—we remember them and you on this day.
• To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children—we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be.
• To those who stepparent—we walk with you on these complex paths.
• To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren, yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you.
• To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year—we grieve and rejoice with you.
• To those who placed children for adoption—we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart.
• And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising—we anticipate with you.

"A Mother's Love"  Video   Jim Brickman

"Everything to Me"  Video  Mark Schultz

"He's My Son"  Video   Mark Schultz

"Call Her Blessed"  Video  Stacey Noll

"A Mother's Prayer"  Video  Keith & Kristyn Getty