Parents: Part of God’s Plan for Children
“Next to God, thy parents.” -William Penn
Recently I wrote about the need for spiritual mentors for those that were newly born in the Lord. But what about those that are both young spiritually, and also young physically (children)? In these critical years, God has given us all representatives to help shape and mold us into who we will end up being in the Lord.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” -Ephesians 6:1-3
You may be familiar with the commandment: honor thy father and mother. But what most never consider is what it does not say: the Bible doesn’t say: honor your father and mother only if you feel that they are truly worthy of honor. Regardless of who they are, or what their shortcomings are, we are to give them honor.
Like it or not, whomever our parents are, and however they’ve chosen to raise us, they are shaping us for the future. God can bring goodness and use out of all situations.
I recall the story of a missionary to Africa named Mary Slessor. When she was young, her father would come home drunk many nights, and he treated his family poorly. No doubt Mary developed many street-smart ways of dealing with these hardships, and learned valuable lessons. And it seems quite amazing, that later in her life, Mary would need such instincts in dealing with tribal leaders in the mission field of Africa, where the leaders of the people were often drunk and unreasonable—a flashback of her childhood years. She fearlessly stood up to countless dangers, and saw God’s hand of protection every time.
Now, imagine if Mary had grown up on a bed of roses, and had been pampered her whole life through. Perhaps God could use such a background for other purposes and callings, (He has a plan for everyone), but can you imagine what it would be like for Mary to be called into Africa and go up against such tribal barbarians? Without the street lessons that her father inadvertently taught her, she would be utterly unprepared, and unsuited for the work that God had called her to do.
Whether we have wise parents that instruct us in the Lord, or troubled ones where we can learn from their mistakes, we ought to thank God for our parents, and recognize that God is using them to shape our very lives. We ought to honor them and obey them, as we would God, because we know that God has orchestrated all things, and arranged for us to be in such a place at such a time, for His good purpose.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28
Related posts:
Leave a Reply