Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Ephesians 6:1
As I was driving back to church this morning, I though about how selfish I can be. Have you ever wanted to go back in your life time and change something, if you could? There is an interesting song by MercyMe called, “Dear Younger Me.” When I listen to that song I am reminded that we would make the changes and benefit ourselves if we could just go back. Do you know that I invented something when I lived in England for a stroller that now is common place there? I never thought of developing that idea. I had an opportunity to buy into penny stocks a small start up company. I didn’t. That company took off and a single share of that penny stock is now worth millions. That company was Intel.
Then I go back and wonder about the number of times I didn’t listen to my dad. I know that if he told me to do something I’d do it or suffer the consequences, but more than that I never thought of how my dad constantly observed me. Dad was never one to give praise. A good job was welcomed and we went on to the next job. The first time that I recalled my dad telling me “Good Job” was when I rebuilt a very old house in Highland, Ohio. I was ever so glad to hear it and it motivated me even more.
Too often we think only of the correction or the disagreements we had with our parents. We don’t like to think that children are experts at pitting one parent against another. We are taught that our parents were unjust in correcting us or using our labors doing chores. It was those things that made us straight arrows and even molded our thinking. Children need that instilling in them. Recently, my grandson asked what I would pay him for doing a job. I told him that he could eat at my table and sleep in my air conditioned house. Then he told me that one of his classmates spoke of child labor laws. I was angry and asked him if he thought that way. He said, “No.” Then I informed him that if he wanted to be valued later he needed to understand work now. I could teach him a trade, but it was up to him to prove that trade by working.
Our mothers and fathers brought us into the world because they loved us. God the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to this world to provide the way of salvation because He too loved us. If we were blessed to have godly parents then we know that which is good. Still, we must be born again. We must be born again. Did you hear me? You must be born again. Our parents gave us life, but they cannot pass the mantel of salvation on to their children. You too need to hear the Word and trust in Jesus alone. Will you?
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