“My dad doesn’t understand me!”
“My mom is so embarrassing!”
“Their rules are so stupid!”
You could probably come up with a whole list of other reasons why you don’t really have to listen to your parents, couldn’t you? That’s why today’s passage can be tough to hear. Ephesians 6:1-3 tells you, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth’” (NIV).
Wouldn’t that command be so much easier if your parents were perfect? It sure would be. But your parents are sinful. They punish you when it wasn’t actually your fault, they yell when they are tired, and they don’t always listen when you try to tell your side of the story.
God knows that and he says, “I know. Obey them anyway. Your life will go so much better.”
Do you want to know the best thing about being in your family? The same Jesus who forgives you for not obeying perfectly is the same Jesus who forgives your mom and dad for not parenting perfectly either. You are being raised by forgiven sinners. Obey them anyway. It’s the right thing to do.
Chomp on this!
Conduct an experiment. For one day, do every single thing your parents ask you to do—right away, even if you think it’s dumb. Then do it for another day. Then try a third. See if it goes well with you.
