Parents and Families!

For Friday, December 13, 2024:

Deuteronomy 5:16 NLT, God’s words: “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Oh my, it’s Friday the 13^th! Good thing Christians don’t believe in superstition and sorcery!

Interestingly, when little babies are born into a family, there is no doubt who will care for them – their parents! But when the tables are turned, when the parents grow old, who will care for them? The answer is not as clear as it used to be!

The Bible says that a man will leave his parents and take a wife, thereby creating a new family. In Jesus’ day, that might mean building a second house on the family farm, or at least within the same city. Nowadays the new family might reside in a different state or a different country, wherever work or life’s circumstances might take them. So it becomes honor and respect, and not so much ‘care.’ By the way, there are bad parents, and that changes the rules somewhat. We can still honor them as our parents, not speaking ill of them, but also steering clear of them. Sometimes going your separate ways is the best way to honor someone.

Personally, I have become a fan of extended families. Grandchildren are the best! I think that honoring parents makes a lot of sense when those parents honor their children and their children’s progeny. It’s kind of like loving your neighbor, except this is family!

This is the only commandment with a promise!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship