INTRODUCTION

The Bible has much to say concerning the dangers of improper family relationships. “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother” (Proverbs 30:11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
See All...). “The son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother” (Micah 7:6For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
See All...), “the eye . . . mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother” (Proverbs 30:17The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
See All...). Yet, the first commandment with promise was to “honour thy father and mother” (Ephesians 6:1-2 [1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. [2] Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
See All...). This honour can be demonstrated by hearkening to (Proverbs 23:22Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
See All...) and obeying one’s parents (Colossians 3:20Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
See All...). As parents seek the Lord’s direction, God will lead them as to how to lead their individual homes (Ezra 8:21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
See All...). The child’s responsibility is directed toward submitting to and learning of the Lord by obeying the parents.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Esther was raised by her cousin Mordecai. She was obedient to him (Esther 2:5-7 [5] Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; [6] Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. [7] And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
  See All..., 20). Even later, she listened to his wisdom and saved her people from a wicked plan (Esther 4:7-8 [7] And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. [8] Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.
  See All..., 16). For many generations, the Rechabites obeyed what their father commanded and the Lord rewarded them (Jeremiah 35:5-10 [5] And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. [6] But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: [7] Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. [8] Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; [9] Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: [10] But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
  See All...; 18-19).
• (For everyone): How is a young person’s relationship with the Lord directly related to his or her relationship to parents (or guardians)? What is the first concept a young person will often have of God?
• Why does God begin life with youth? Why did God establish life so that it would begin with a child’s reliance upon parents? What are some of the responsibilities of youth?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to help the children in your home to be obedient.
• Thank God for the family structure He established.

HYMN

GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

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