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28th August 2025
ThursdayReflection
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'Pastor John Miller'
Senior Pastor of Revival Christian Fellowship
in Menifee, California.
'Honour Your Parents'
Exodus 20:12
It's the Fifth Commandment,
in Exodus 20:12.
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."
We are so confused in our culture today that we don't know what a father is, what a mother is, what a man is and we don't know what a woman is.
So it's not surprising that we are completely destroyed as a nation.
Have you ever bought something at a store, taken out the instructions and seen, "For best results, follow the manufacturer's instructions"?
So if God designed marriage and family, don't you think "for best results" we should follow "the Manufacturer's instructions"?
God knows what marriage is supposed to be.
Whenever we break away from God's design for marriage, it is detrimental.
We're going to see the consequence of fathers and mothers being obeyed and honoured: "... that your days may be long upon the land
It is in the home where children learn to respect, to submit to, and to obey those who are in authority, to their mother and father.
This Commandment is directed to the children, but it also has implications for parents.
Whenever this verse is quoted, whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament, it always includes both a "father" and a "mother."
In context, this is a reference to the nation of Israel and their Promised Land.
The Israelites came out of Egypt as slaves and were to enter into the land "flowing with milk and honey."
Every one of the Commandments, except the one regarding the Sabbath day, is repeated or alluded to in the New Testament.
This Fifth Commandment is repeated more than once in the New Testament.
Now Paul speaks to father or parents:
"And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
The word "obey" means "to listen under."
It means the action of listening in order to obey.
Have you ever noticed that when kids are little, they hear, but they don't want you to know they're hearing?
I noticed that our five-year-old grandson, pretends he doesn't hear you, so he doesn't have to obey you.
Have you looked at the culture around us and asked, "What's wrong with their minds?! What are they thinking?!"
They are reprobate; their minds are broken and they don't work properly.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul says,
"In the last days perilous times will come,"
and these two things will characterize those times: "disobedient to parents" and "without natural affection," as the King James version says.
"Without natural affection" means "without family love."
So two of the signs of the end of times are the dissolving, degeneration and destruction of the family, as God has designed it.
I don't really see much hope for America if we have destroyed God's design for marriage and family.
And these are the last days.
Why should children obey their parents?
Let me give you five reasons
it's commanded by God, Ephesians 6:1.
Number two, it says that parents are God's ordained authority over the child.
If you're not the parent to your child, you can do great damage.
Take the lead. Take responsibility.
Number three, is because it's right or righteous,
The concept is that it is a righteous thing.
Number four, it is pleasing to the Lord.
"Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."
Number five, because Jesus obeyed His parents.
He said to them, "Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"
Can you imagine what it must have been like to raise the Son of God?
Can you imagine the bumper sticker on Joseph's donkey?
"My Son is the Saviour of the world"
He wouldn't argue with them or resist them.
He respected them and obeyed them. Jesus left heaven, took on flesh and submitted to His earthly parents, even as He submitted to His heavenly Father.
So if your kids get upset when you give them some instruction, say, "Jesus obeyed His parents; so should you.
You want to be like Jesus?
Then obey your father and your mother."
Un-edited version avaiable, on request
Pastor John Miller
is the Senior Pastor of Revival Christian Fellowship in Menifee, California.
He began his pastoral ministry in 1973 by leading a Bible study of six people.
God eventually grew that study into Calvary Chapel of San Bernardino,
and after pastoring there for 39 years, Pastor John became the Senior Pastor of Revival in June of 2012.
Revival Christian Fellowship
We believe the primary way people grow in their relationship with the Lord is to study the Word of God.
When you come, you will always hear the Bible taught and preached.
God willing, we're going to live the Bible in our daily lives.
We are a Bible-focused, Bible-centred church.
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