This commandment seems to be largely forgotten today. Children and young people act as if they never heard of or even thought about this Biblical principle.

It is probably because their parents did not raise them in church. All too often, parents have been seeking riches and keeping Sundays for their own pleasure rather than doing what God wants. As a result, their children are not saved and not interested in God or the church. No wonder they act like they do – and it is often the parent’s fault.

What is even more odd is that the parents often let them get away with such behavior. When a child is allowed to be disrespectful of authority, later they tend to disrespect all authority figures. Sooner or later, it lands them in jail – which tends to harden them further. They must learn the hard way.

It is easier for parents to teach their children to respect them and authority when they have the church backing them up. They also learn to respect others, the law, government, and God.

This verse also has a promise with it. God promises long life for those who honor their parents. Many young people who dishonor their parents soon find like-minded friends. They get on drugs, end up in trouble, and often die young.

God gives a promise to those who follow this commandment and will honor Him. The command is repeated in the New Testament. Paul repeats it like this in Ephesians 6:2,3: “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.”

Children should honor their parents by keeping in contact with them – and not just for money. They should love and respect them. When necessary, children should also help their parents when they get older, too, and not forsake them.

Thank God for parents who teach their children the right way when they are young. The Bible tells us that they will continue to walk that way and please God, in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

This morning I was once again reminded of God’s many blessings to His children. I love to remind myself of them every day and thank Him for them. This passage is especially helpful in recalling them. Here is a look at these verses.

“Who forgiveth all thine iniquities” – The first and greatest blessing anyone could have is the forgiveness of sins and salvation. Without His mercy and forgiveness no one could ever go to Heaven. Thank God for the work of Christ for us on the Cross Who paid all of our debt so we could go free by simple faith in what He did for us.

“who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction” – The greatest disease of every human is sin. It is incurable and it is why all must die. Christ has healed us of this malady – that is, from the penalty of sin, which is the second death – which is Hell. He did so by giving us His righteousness and making us new creatures. At the same time, He has also enabled us though Him to have power over sin when we look to Him for it.

“who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” – As we walk close to Him, we can see His blessings and workings in our lives. He shows us His mercy toward us in His protection, His deliverance, His nearness in relationship and fellowship – the relationship with Him truly grows sweeter every day!

“Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things” – It is God that gives us the things we enjoy every day. Truly, when we go to the store in America we find an incredible amount of choices of foods – basic and special. The best food, though, comes from His Word – since we cannot live by bread alone.

“so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s” – After we leave our daily cares with Him and seek to serve Him like He desires, it affects how we look in older years. People that are often stressed, or that abuse their bodies with substance abuse, look older than they really are (although some genes may play a part in that). After we cast all our cares on Him, He removes the stress and gives us inner peace – beyond anything that the world can give. Peace in the heart (Isaiah 26:3) produces calmness and a more youthful appearance.

One more way that we show our thanks is to obey Him. If we love Him, His commandments are not a problem. Going to church is one of those commandments (Hebrews 10:25). Will you be in church tomorrow?

Do you have these kinds of blessings? If so, have you thanked God for them? He would love to hear you talk to Him today and thank Him for the many – countless blessings He gives us every day.

Over the years, it has been my experience that the Christian life is such that it is sometimes difficult to see God’s hand at work. Circumstances may become dark, and fellowship with the Almighty can seem non-existent sometimes. Job experienced this very thing, and the Book with his name was written so that the believer can learn to continue serving God even when Heaven seems like brass and no answer appears to be on its way.

Many of the Psalms were written dealing with this issue. To David, God sometimes seemed not to be listening and prayers went unanswered. He often starts several of the Psalms in a gloomy state because of personal trouble. No doubt, if you have tried serving God, you will also face such events on occasion.

One of the things that helped David in His troubled life, which has also helped me, is that he would deliberately remember how God dealt with Israel and with himself in the past. Thinking about those things often quickly encouraged his heart. He loved to think about God’s past lovingkindness to him and this encouraged him to go on and believe that God would continue to show His mercy and compassion toward him. The word “lovingkindness” occurs 21X in the Psalms.

In each case, whether Israel, David, or another of God’s servants needed help and deliverance, it seldom came immediately. On the other hand – His help was never late, either! The good thing to focus on when you are facing testing and trouble – is to remember that those things have an end. Why? Because He is merciful and has compassion on His children! He loves you and you will see His help if you are obeying Him – He has promised! Keep on trusting Him.

He has also promised that He will never leave nor forsake you (He. 13:5). Consider the following three verses and meditate on them:

• 42:8 “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”
• 36:7 “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.”
• 63:3 “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.”

On occasion, I meet people who are bitter against God. Something happened at some time that they thought did not fit into their idea of what God ought to be doing for them.

No doubt, there is a lot of evil in this world. Some of it is horrible. Remember, though, that the source of evil is Satan – not God. He is holy, and we are told, in James 1:12: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”

Before going further, it needs to be said that some things that occur in life are without explanation. Some evil things happen in the life of the saved and of the unsaved. It is impossible to fully know all of God’s reasons for doing some things – or at least permitting them. There are also times when God will chasten a disobedient child.

For those who are saved, the believer can be assured that everything that happens will ultimately work out for good and God’s glory. It includes trouble and things often considered evil, such as cancer, bad health, poverty, crime, death of loved ones, and more. God has promised that if you are serving Him according to the Bible, that:  “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Ro. 8:28). 

The above verse (Ro. 8:28) does not indicate a time frame. Sometimes, the good may not be seen for a long time. In some cases, the ultimate good will only be received in glory – but it will come – He is always faithful and does not change. God also tells us, in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Have you thanked God for allowing the things that come into your life when you are serving Him? Can you trust Him? Will you?

Although God continues to be a God of love – just like ordinary parents today – He does have some strong expectations of His children. Those expectations start with the fact that He has redeemed the believer from both the wages of sin and the power of sin in the life.

God can only have close fellowship with people that are like-minded – and God is above all else – holy (without sin of any kind). Believers will find that He wants to fellowship with His children, but they need to grow in grace and holiness:

• II Co. 7:1 “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
• Col 3:8 “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”

Just as God required the Old Testament Jews to be holy, His expectations are no different for His children in the age of grace. When His children fail to be headed toward holiness, He will eventually chasten them – just like earthly parents would correct an erring child: “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness” (Heb. 12:10).

When it comes to Christian service, the same thing holds true. God does not want – nor is He willing to use unclean vessels (unholy people) in His work. He has not changed in those requirements: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (II Tim. 2:20,21).

Now let me ask you, Christian: If you say that you fellowship with God, are you seeking to be holy so that He will recognize your worship and bless your service?