January 31 – Compassionate to Whom?

But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'  Matthew 25:31-40

For years I’ve tried to offer a cold bottle of water to anyone who comes to my door, especially on hot summer days. When visiting my daughter recently I was so pleased to hear her offer a bottle of water to a young man working on their new home. That is compassion. Now she is modeling this trait for her children. The passage in Matthew 25 refers to the way we are to treat fellow Christians, but if we treat everyone as if they are “brothers or sisters” in the Lord, then we won’t miss treating others like Jesus. If they are Christian, then we’ve done what is expected of us. If they are not Christian, then they may feel the love of the Lord and be drawn into His knowledge and grace. What are some ideas of ways that you can show compassion to those in your church and community?

Training Tip – Next time you are out with your children and see a homeless person, or beggar on the street asking for money, go to the nearest fast food restaurant and buy a meal. Take it back to the needy person and give it to them. After delivering the meal, remind your children that we should treat everyone as if they were Jesus, a child of God. Consider it a joy to help others. Model compassionate behavior in your home and community.

Add to your list more ways that you can serve others for Jesus. 

 Lord – Please be gracious to my children and grandchildren to wrap them in compassion—that they would desire to be compassionate to others all their lives and that this virtue would be deeply imbedded in their hearts.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 30 – Choose Compassion

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…. Colossians 3:12

Put on a heart…. It is getting close to Valentine’s Day. How is your heart doing? 

Being chosen by God is just what we are…those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name…. John 1:12. It is so good to know that God has chosen us…and I personally have chosen to accept Jesus as my Savior. Of all the people throughout time and in all the countries of the world—God reached down and picked me to be one of His children. Is that special or what? So now I choose to have a heart of compassion because of the love of God.

Training Tip – As you get ready for Valentine’s Day plan to make heart shaped cookies and take them to shut-ins associated with your church or to a shelter for battered or homeless in your community. Have the kiddos make Valentine’s Day cards to take along when you deliver the cookies. Can you think of other ways to share and show compassion to others in your community? Make a list of ways to “touch” others that are not physical touches. Some of those ways may be visiting, calling on the phone, playing cards, or sending pictures to others. What else can you think of to do?

Lord – Please give us grace to teach our children about Your compassion and to make compassion not just part of our lives, but part of our very heart and souls.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 29 – Endure and Receive Compassion

We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.  James 5:11  

When you consider the prophets in the Old Testament and saints like Job who went through so much distress and strife in their lives—enduring hardships in obedience to the Lord. What great examples they are for us! There are people all through the ages that have endured persecution—even today. We have it so good here in the United States where we can freely worship the Lord—any day. The Lord Jesus was compassionate to people in Palestine, and throughout the ages He has shown mercy to those who have been witnesses for Him.

Other than people thinking that I’m a goody two shoes I’ve not felt much persecution in my life. Oh sure, I wasn’t popular in grade school or high school, but compassion isn’t about popularity. Times of distress and strife in my life have been centered around loosing loved ones in untimely situations. Friends and fellow Christians came to my aid—to comfort me and give me strength to endure the stress that ensued. 

Training Tip – Share with your children a time when someone showed compassion to you during a difficult time in your life. You could also share with them how you have shown the compassion of Christ, being the hands of God, to someone else. Tell them how that made you feel. Encourage them to be there for their friends when circumstances are difficult.

Lord – Grant us the grace to see ways we can be compassionate to others around us. 

Happy Birthday, Auntie Merc!

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 28 – Compassionate Feasting with the King

When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. ... Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children. Matthew 14:14, 19-21 

At the end of a long day of healing sick people, Jesus probably just wanted to relax and have a nice meal…but this one day there were so many people and only a few fish and little loaves of bread. Jesus was a miracle worker. He blessed that food and fed 5,000 men, as well as their wives and children. Jesus had compassion on those people. He knew that like Himself they had been sitting for the whole day without eating while they were so attentive to His teaching and healing. If He sent them home without eating some might faint along the way—so He provided a meal of fish and bread. Pure compassion. He broke the bread, blessed it and they all feasted. Everyone ate as much as they could…and the disciples gathered up twelve baskets of leftovers. What a feast!  

Training Tip – Count out 5,000 Cheerios to represent those 5,000 men. Then have some fish and bread for supper. Explain how Jesus blessed the fish and loaves and fed five thousand men. For older children you could visit a football or baseball stadium and see 5,000 people in one place at one time. Then use five fish sandwiches or five hamburgers to represent the five fish and loaves of bread that Jesus blessed. Ask them how far that food would go? Your family alone could probably eat that much. This should dramatically illustrate the miracle of the feeding of those 5,000 men, plus their families.

Lord – Thank you for the fish and bread You provide for us…and for Your own example of compassionl

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 27 - Compassion of Christ

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35-36

Jesus was compassionate. Compassion is simply feeling the pain and plight of others. It allows others to express a deep feeling of love and concern that moves then to meet the distresses, struggles, and needs of those suffering. Jesus was deeply compassionate. Walking the dusty paths between the towns and villages around Galilee He spent most of His three years of ministry caring for the people in that area. He reached out to people that came to Him at all hours of the day and night. There were sick, demonic, grieving, rejected and spiritually lost people who desperately needed Jesus’ touch—His care and concern. People brought their friends and relatives. As Jesus’ path crossed theirs, like the woman who was going to bury her son and Jesus raised the boy up from death, He had compassion. All through the gospels we find Jesus experiencing others distress and unselfishly helping them—giving up His own time and energy. What is your favorite story of Jesus helping people in the Bible? Is it the story of Him…cleansing the leper…raising the young girl from the dead…healing the lame friend lowered through the roof… healing the demoniac…or healing the blind man…or some other miracle? Why is it special to you?  Imagine how these people must have felt at having Jesus touch them and heal them when no one else could do that.    

Training Tip – Discuss compassion with your children. They probably have experienced compassion from others—but it is important for them to express compassion for it to become part of their own character. Remind them about the “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” verse, Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. Luke 6:31. With very small children you may even want to pretend that a baby doll is sick or hurt and have the children help the doll.

Lord – Help us to be compassionate to others—to treat them as we would want to be treated.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 26 – Distress to Joy

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9 

Joy is just one of the ultimate characteristics, expressions of love, and fulfilling experiences in life. Would you consider that depression, life without joy, is probably the cause of most suicides, and likely the case of homicides, too. My ex-brother-in-law was not a person who I would ever characterize as “joyful.” He didn’t know Jesus as his savior and in fact at one time considered himself an atheist, specifically rejecting Christ. His choices in life resulted in a lot of people being robbed of their joy when he killed my sister, her new husband, and his own two daughters…and then, himself. Choices. Attitudes. Those are the keys to life—the shackles of death. You might ask, “How does one find their way back to joy?”

Only through the love of Jesus. Love shown through the hugs, encouraging words, and kind actions of those who know Him become doers of the Word. See James chapter two, especially verse 26…For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Having received this love from others, I need to freely give it—to pass it on, or as some would say, “pay it forward.” It isn’t hard to look around us to see those who need to have their joy restored. From the child who has been bullied, or the unappreciated office worker, to the neglected senior citizen cast away in a dreary rest home, there are people who need to be shown love and compassion to renew their strength in the Lord and experience joy again. Try to show and share Jesus’ love with those around you. That love may change their opinion of Jesus—make them a believer-so that other lives may ultimately be spared. We never know if our random or purposed act of kindness may result in a better life, mercy and joy for others. 

Training Tip – Create a “Pay It Forward” game. Roll a dice and have the children give ideas for helping other people depending on the number on the dice.

            1 = help a child who is bullied at school

            2 = help a homeless person

            3 = help someone who is new to your neighborhood

            4 = help someone who is new to their class at school

            5 = help someone in your own family

            6 = help an older person

Give reward points for each idea. Then transfer the reward points to food treats. Example 10 points = one cookie. 

Lord – We’ve had some real trials in life, but through Your mercy the joy, inexpressible, has been rekindled in our lives. Thank you for sending others to share Your love with us…let us help others with the same love and mercy. 

This is the day of a minor Jewish Festival, Tu Bishvat, a “New Year” day welcoming spring and the blooming of the first tree. It is celebrated by eating fruits and nuts from specific trees.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 25 - Happy Heart

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13

Jesus hadn’t come to earth before the Book of Proverbs was written, but He was in existence. He knew the Proverbs, because being God, He thought of them. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness….2 Timothy 3:16. As Jesus grew up and had His ministry in Israel there were likely many times that He reflected on the scripture about a joyful heart…and smiled. Jesus had a sense of humor. We can imagine that He would joke with His disciples as they walked along the dusty roads and reclined around the table together. Laughter creates an attitude of acceptance and eases tension. Jesus would have wanted to create such an environment for His disciples to feel comfortable and to set a tone for teaching. He was always teaching. We consider His Sermon on the Mount as one of His most famous teaching times—as well as when He spoke to and then fed 5,000 men and then 4,000 men, and their families. As recorded in Matthew 5:12 from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said…Rejoice (have joy in your life) and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. He was telling people to have a joyful heart.

Training Tip – Find some jokes that are about food… Here are a few to start.

            What do you call cheese that’s not yours? [Nacho (not your) cheese.]

           Why did someone throw the butter out the window? [To see the butterfly.]

            What is a scarecrow’s favorite fruit? [Strawberry.]

            Where do you go on red and stop on green? [A watermelon.]

            Which fish tastes best in peanut butter? [A JELLYfish.]

At the dinner table ask these jokes and then use the time to teach your children about food fun and that there are different types of food. Food that they are eating and spiritual food.

Lord – Thank you for inspiring all the people who wrote the Bible so that it can be used just like You used scripture, for training and correction. We want to have cheerful hearts that show Your love as we feast on foods around our supper table and around Your table.

Friday’s Feast at the Lord’s Table

Make it a Greek Meal with Gyros from January 18^th, a Greek Salad, Greek Green Beans. Baklava or Chocolate Cake would be great for dessert. Yum. 

Greek salad – Romaine lettuce /cucumber/cherry tomatoes/Greek olives/peppercini

Fabulous Greek Salad Dressing

3/4 cup olive oil

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons dried basil

1-1/2 teaspoons pepper

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1-1/2 teaspoons onion powder

1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard

1 cup red wine vinegar

In a large container, mix together the olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, basil, pepper, salt, onion powder, and Dijon-style mustard. Pour in the vinegar, and mix vigorously until well blended. Store tightly covered at room temperature. Serves about 12. 

Greek Rice
2 cups water
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 cup long grain rice
½ tsp. Each thyme, oregano and rosemary, crumbled
2 tsp. olive oil
½ tsp. salt
1 clove garlic, minced
½ cup thinly sliced onions
1 Tbsp. chopped kalamata olives
Combine water, rice, oil, salt and garlic in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6. 

Greek Green Beans
1-1/2 pounds fresh green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup feta, goat or mozzarella cheese
In a medium saucepan sauté the garlic in the oil for a couple of minutes. Add the beans and salt with about ½ cup of water. Cover and cook on medium heat until tender, stirring a few times. Stir in cheese. Serve immediately. Yield: 6 servings. ENJOY!

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 24 – Go Into All the World

The disciples continued to reflect the joy of the Lord long after He ascended into heaven. The Book of Acts records the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth, just as Jesus asked them to do in Acts 1:8.

And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. ... And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:49, 52 

At that time that Acts was written in 61 AD Rome may have seemed like the remotest part of the earth. Now there are more than 6,800 languages in the world with less than 2,000 languages and about 209 million people that still need a Bible translation.  Wycliffe Bible Translators have a campaign to reach all the known languages in the world by 2025. http://www.wycliffe.org/ That is only another twelve years. Most of these people are in what is known as the 10/40 window. http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/1040.htm    

We are told in Revelations that every tribe—that is all the people of those 6,800 languages—will know Jesus. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Revelation 5:9. We should feel so loved, and thus joyful knowing that Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. Like the disciples in Acts, we should be filled with joy. It’s our choice. It is back to the focus of life—choices and attitudes. We need to have an attitude like Christ and go into the entire world—at least our part of the world—spreading the word of the Lord. Do you have an attitude and a plan to do this? That’s what it takes. Without a plan, we fail to accomplish anything of significance. At least I know that without a plan or goals, I just go though my day attending to only the basic needs of the day…the urgent needs—the tyranny of the urgent. With goals attained, joy is also experienced.

 

Training Tip – Show your children a globe or a map of the world and point out the areas in the 10/40 window where people don’t know about Christ. Pray for people in those countries. Talk about people in your community that may not know Jesus and how to reach or serve them. 

Lord – You are worthy of our praise. Help us to see those around us who don’t know You and give us wisdom and insight as to ways to reach and serve them for You.

 

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 23 – Did You Do It On Your Own?

In His prayer to His Heavenly Father before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus spoke of His joy. Read John 17.

Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, ... "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ... "Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; ... "But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.” John 17:1, 3, 7, 13

Joy made full. Only Jesus can give us that deep joy that overflows. Sure when you reach a big goal—your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, a new job, the birth of your son or daughter—you are filled with joy. But what is the source of that joy? Aren’t those blessings from the Lord? You couldn’t have gotten there without Him—without His love and encouragement. Our lives are centered around Jesus…or else we are self-centered and unaware of Jesus. If you find yourself in that self-centered category, take another look. Have you really done it on your own?

Training Tip – Teach or just simply tell your children that happiness is not an end point—it happens along the way. We can’t just “be happy” although sometimes putting a smile on our face will change our heart. Have them stand before a mirror with a sad face…and then tell them to smile. You frown and then smile, too. Feel how different that feels in your heart as well as your face. Go and share your smile with someone else.

Lord – We thank you for smiles. Help us to share Your love as well as smiles that express the joy in our hearts.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 22 – Do You Have Anything to Eat?

One of the really amazing and joyous stories about Jesus is that of the travelers on the road to Emmaus recorded in Luke 24.

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. ... And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. ... And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, ... They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be to you." ... And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them. Luke 24:13-15, 28-31, 33, 35-36, 40-43 

Jesus asked them if they had anything to eat! Imagine how hungry He must have been! He hadn’t really eaten anything since the Passover Meal we know as the Last Supper. He was beaten and tortured, then He hung on the cross, died and was buried. When He rose from death He didn’t sit down to a big breakfast—no He walked seven miles with two of His followers, who didn’t even recognize Him. Then He sits down to eat…well actually reclines to eat as was their custom…and He only blesses and breaks the bread, no mention of eating it, before He disappears. So there He is back in Jerusalem, hungry. Have you got anything to eat? He was ready to feast—so they gave Him some broiled fish. They were filled with joy! Jesus, their master and teacher, wasn’t dead anymore. We’ve heard the story before, but do you see that the disciples are all happy and the room was probably noisy with the joyful celebration—and there was Jesus, "Have you anything here to eat?" His joy was centered on food right then. Where is your joy? Are you rejoicing because of Jesus has filled your heart with the realization that He is real…or are you just joyful over the food He has provided you to eat? Are you rejoicing daily—not just on Sunday when you go to church and worship the Lord?

Make my joy complete…Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Philippians 2:1-2  Jesus was likely rejoicing with them. What an example He was for us at this point in His life—joyful and always focusing on the Scriptures. He explained His life, His purpose to them on the road to Emmaus and then opened their minds to understand the Scriptures after He ate the fish. Keep reading in Luke 24. 

Training Tip – Celebrate with a joy cake…or even a joy sandwich today. Don’t wait for a birthday to have a celebration. Stick a candle in your sandwich…and in your child’s sandwich, meatloaf, chicken…or whatever…and celebrate Jesus resurrection, His feast on earth and the one we’ll all have in Heaven.  

Lord – I rejoice with You. Thank you for this lesson from the Emmaus road that You were hungry and You ate. When we have our resurrected bodies, we’ll enjoy a great feast with physical and spiritual food at Your Table in Heaven.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 21 - Joy

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 

Joy appears 182 times in the NASB version of the Bible. That’s a lot of joy! Jesus must have had joy—an expression of delight and real, authentic happiness at some time during His life on earth, but that is not recorded as such in the Gospels. The Wise Men who sought Jesus as a baby had great joy when they saw the Bethlehem star (Matthew 2:10). The angels that announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds said I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people (Luke 2:10). It was a joyous, although humble, birth.

In His ministry many were filled with joy. Among those were seventy followers that He sent out to minister to people in towns that He would visit. The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." ... And Jesus told them, "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. Luke 10:17, 20-21. Jesus Himself rejoiced and praised His Heavenly Father. 

What a good example for us. He endured the cross just for you. If you have repented from your sins and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, Jesus has already rejoiced, along with the angels, that your name is recorded in that Book of Life. We should rejoice with Jesus when we know that our names are recorded in heaven—written down in the Book of Life—that one day we would not only be accepted, but welcomed, into our Heavenly Home—to feast at the Lord’s Table. 

Training Tip – Find a picture of Jesus seated on the Throne—there is one hanging on the wall of my office. Share that picture with your kids and tell them how Jesus forgives sins—theirs and yours—and we can all be very happy about that. Remind them how good it feels to forgive others…and themselves. It is National Hug Day—give each other a hug…and one from me, too. A good hug warms relationships. That is what National Hug Day is all about. 

Lord – I rejoice with You that my name is written in that great Book of Life in heaven. Please help me to tell others about You and that their sins can be forgiven, too—that their names can be written in that same book and they can know the joy of Your forgiveness.

National Hug Day  http://www.nationalhuggingday.com/

 

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

January 20 – Obedient Children

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Colossians 3:20 

One of the Ten Commandments is…Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. - Exodus 20:12. One way to honor parents is to be obedient to them. Paul instructed the children of Ephesus saying…Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1. I find it interesting that God is so interested in children that He puts specific instructions in His Word. Additionally, God wants to be honored in all our lives. Further guidance is offered in the following verses.

Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, 'I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever'; but now the LORD declares, 'Far be it from Me--for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:30 

 

A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?' Malachi 1:6 

For God said, 'honor your father and mother,' and, 'he who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.' Matthew 15:4

Children are always children, even as adults. We should honor our parents, even if they are no longer with us. Honor their memory—especially if they were Christians. Share with your children and grandchildren stories about your ancestors that honor them. It has been said that to know who you are you need to know where you came from—who your ancestors are. Find out facts about your parents and grandparents. What they did when they were growing up and what their dreams were. Discover their spiritual heritage, too. Write the stories down and trade stories with cousins so that you have a bigger picture of all your family.

 

Training Tip – With your young children tell about times that you were obedient or even times that you were disobedient to your parents—and the consequences. Let them know what you expect of them, before they get into trouble. How can they know how to behave unless they are taught/told/trained? You might use dolls—or trucks—as props in the training. You tell the toys how to behave, and then have the toys act out the behavior. You may want to have the child “teach” the toy how to act properly in putting away toys, in obeying Mom and Dad, in playing nicely with siblings and friends, or when shopping or whatever.  

Lord – It is great to be a part of the family of God. May our children see how we honor God the Father in our thoughts, words, and actions.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.