Message summary: Let us resolve to faithfully obey the Fifth Commandment to honor our father and mother.

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"Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land" (Ephesians 6:1-3).

Yesterday on a bike ride through the countryside I stopped to visit with Dave for a few minutes. He runs a landscaping business and works in construction. He did some work (framing) on our home addition last fall and I believe he is a man of integrity, a greatly diminishing quality in our own age. Several weeks ago his wife and children joined him at our Open House. It was great to see a wholesome family.

As we were talking his son was riding his bike around just like I would have ridden my bike some 60 years ago, just going to and fro making circles and riding down banks.

I said to him, "Father's Day is this weekend so don't forget to practice the 5th Commandment". He said "I won't".

Well, I wondered if he really knew what the 5th Commandment was, so I asked and he responded, "Obey your parents". (It's likely that Mom and Dad have reinforced this commandment to their children). I smiled at his dad and said that's the main thing at his age!  Actually the 5th Commandment states, "Honor your father and mother". However, our second text ties in obedience to honor.

This 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 practiced 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, “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land” (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.

The latest plunge into depraved nonsense is calling a mother "a birthing person" or father "a non-birthing person". The supposed academic elite promotes this; a Harvard Medical School department Twitter account referred to women as “birthing people” in a tweet, and claimed that "not all who give birth" are women. When our supposed most esteemed, elite educational institutions espouse this craziness we are in deep trouble!!!

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

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 Precept Commentary states,

Today let us resolve to faithfully obey the Fifth Commandment to honor our father and mother. For children this is primarily expressed as they obey their 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).

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 with them. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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 with your parents is difficult at best; to honor them is even harder. 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 the midst 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.

News of increasing evil (if you care to read): This morning I was reading articles from "The Washington Stand" that are sent to me daily. "Massachusetts Claims Pregnancy Resource Centers Not As ‘Safe’ As ‘Trusted’ Abortion Facilities". If you are inclined to believe this is just right wing "misinformation" there is a link to the actual state site. This is sheer evil paid for by the taxpayer. I lived in Massachusetts in the nineties and there is a remnant of true believers that are vastly outnumbered.

"5th Commandment - Exodus 20:12"  Watch on YouTube  Musical Memory Verse

"Children, Obey Your Parents in the Lord"   Watch on YouTube  Scripture for Kids