Honoring Parents: Reflecting God's Love and Commandments

Honor the Parents God Gave You

Have you ever stopped to think about why God chose to bring us into the world through a father and a mother? Why did he decide to create and nurture new life through parents when he had every conceivable possibility available to him?

As with everything God does, he has many reasons, most of which are unknown to us. However, the Bible gives us a glimpse into some of the reasons why God chose to bring us into the world through parents.

God Created Us in His Image

The first reason why God chose to bring us into the world through parents is because he created us in his image, after his likeness. Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’”. This means that we are created to reflect God’s image and character in the world.

God is a relational God who exists in a community of three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He created us to share in his community and to reflect his relational nature in the world. One of the ways we do this is through our relationships with our parents.

Our parents are our first teachers and guides in life. They teach us how to love, how to trust, how to forgive, and how to relate to others. In their love for us, we catch a glimpse of God’s love for us. In their care for us, we see a reflection of God’s care for us. In their protection of us, we experience a taste of God’s protection of us.

God Commands Us to Honor Our Parents

The second reason why God chose to bring us into the world through parents is because he commands us to honor them. Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you”.

Honoring our parents means showing them respect, love, and gratitude. It means recognizing the sacrifices they have made for us and the wisdom they have to offer. It means listening to their advice and seeking their guidance. It means being patient with them when they make mistakes and forgiving them when they hurt us.

God commands us to honor our parents because he knows that this is essential for our well-being. When we honor our parents, we learn to respect authority, to value relationships, and to appreciate the blessings that God has given us. We also experience the blessings of long life and prosperity that come from obeying God’s commands.

Jesus Set the Example of Honoring His Parents

The third reason why God chose to bring us into the world through parents is because Jesus set the example of honoring his parents. Luke 2:51 says, “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them”.

Jesus, the Son of God, chose to come into the world through a human mother and father. He grew up in a family and experienced all the joys and challenges of family life. He learned from his parents and honored them by obeying them.

Jesus’ example shows us that honoring our parents is not just something we do when we are children. It is a lifelong commitment that we make to show respect and love to the people who brought us into the world and raised us.

Honoring Our Parents is a Reflection of Our Relationship with God

The fourth reason why God chose to bring us into the world through parents is because our relationship with our parents is a reflection of our relationship with God. 1 John 4:20 says, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen”.

Our relationship with our parents is a tangible expression of our love for God. When we honor our parents, we are showing our love for God and our gratitude for the blessings he has given us. When we disrespect our parents, we are dishonoring God and rejecting his authority in our lives.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). When we honor our parents, we are honoring Jesus, who came into the world through parents and who calls us to love and serve one another.

Honoring Our Parents is a Lifelong Commitment

The fifth reason why God chose to bring us into the world through parents is because honoring our parents is a lifelong commitment. This means that we are called to honor our parents not just when we are children, but also when we are adults.

As we grow older, our relationship with our parents may change. We may become more independent and make our own decisions. However, this does not mean that we should stop honoring our parents. We should continue to show them respect, love, and gratitude, and seek their guidance when we need it.

Even if our parents have made mistakes or hurt us in the past, we can still choose to honor them. This does not mean that we have to condone their behavior or ignore the hurt they have caused us. It means that we can choose to forgive them and show them the same grace that God has shown us.

Conclusion

God chose to bring us into the world through parents for many reasons. One of the main reasons is because our relationship with our parents reflects our relationship with God. When we honor our parents, we are showing our love for God and our gratitude for the blessings he has given us.

Honoring our parents is a lifelong commitment that requires patience, forgiveness, and humility. It is not always easy, but it is essential for our well-being and for the well-being of our families.

Let us strive to honor our parents today and every day, and to teach our children to do the same. Let us show them the love and respect that they deserve, and let us thank God for the gift of parents who reflect his love and care for us.

References

• Exodus 20:12


• Genesis 1:26


• Luke 2:51


• Matthew 25:40