“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” — Ephesians 6:1 NIV
The first time I heard of the scripture above, I was a child in a Sunday school children’s service. My instructor told me to obey my parents in the Lord. However, at that time, I thought he referred to my biological parents, not knowing he was referring to my pastors. It was until I grew, studied the Word and understood it.
When Apostle Paul said this to the Ephesian church, he was speaking from a spiritual-fatherly perspective. He told them to obey their shepherds in the Lord. But when it came to the biological parents, he said they should honour them (Ephesians 6:2). Why? Because Paul knew not all biological parents are also spiritual parents to their children.
Don’t we see it today? Many people grew up knowing God not from home but from churches. Even though this is bad, we must be conscious of not transferring this mistake to our children.
Obedience to your spiritual parents is right, not just good. Your shepherd in the Lord is your shepherd because of two reasons:
• They are ahead of you in terms of divine knowledge.
• God placed them in your path to guide you in your walk with Him.
Such people won’t lead you to the ditch because God also checks them. Anyone who doesn’t lead you to Christ isn’t qualified to be your spiritual parent, and suppose you have such people in your life; you have to unfollow them immediately for your own safety.
As a child of God, make it an ambition to overwhelm your leaders in Christ with complete obedience. They’ll give an account of how they took care of you spiritually before God (Hebrews 13:17). But you’ll also account for how you took their words.
You’re a blessing.
Prayer
Father, in Jesus’ name, I ask for the grace to obey my parents in the Lord. You placed them on my path of eternal life for my benefit. Help me see their instructions as beneficial and not bland so that my obedience to them in faith will bring out the best in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Devotional Code: KGD – 2023 – 058
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