Now Paul goes on the the other family relationship, with the children.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the Earth.The only commandment God gives to children is to learn to obey their parents. And He even gives them a promise with it, to encourage them.
When children learn at a young age to do what they are told by their parents, immediately, without complaint; this is the foundation that will ground their whole lives. They will be ready to also obey their teachers, their bosses at work, the police officers directing traffic, the laws of the land. They will not get into trouble, and they will be able to get along with others. So their life will go well, and they can live a long life.
And they will also be able to obey God who they can't see. This is the most important.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Fathers, and by extension, mothers, are the first teachers children have in life, and they are not to be harsh or aggravating to their children, but gentle and considerate, and firm and consistent. They know their children better than anyone else (except God, of course), and can temper their teachings to each child's temperament.
The father and the mother each have things to teach their children, as well as demonstrating a godly relationship for them. A spiritually healthy home will produce spiritually healthy children. This is God's plan for the family.
The family is the first target of our enemy, because it is the foundation of our very society, our civilization itself. Because he hates us, and only wants to steal, kill and destroy (John 10: 10). So he attacks the foundation so that the whole structure will fall.
But as Christians, we must raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
O my Father, please be with us as parents, to be Christ to our own children. Show us how to teach each child according to his or her temperament, and to draw them gently into godliness and good citizenship in the society in which we live.
Help us to grow them into good witnesses for You, and send us all out into the world to let every living being hear of Your wonderful Love, and how You have already met all of our needs.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Christ Jesus is our Lord God Almighty, King of all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
