"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12)

We now move to the Second Tablet of Commandments. The First Tablet speaks of our relationship with God. We worship Him and Him alone. We honor His name and we give time to spend in His Word and in worship. Today, we begin commandments speaking to our relationships while here on earth starting with the Fourth Commandment: Honor your father and mother.

My mom and dad were fairly straight-forward most of the time. Everything was going well and then they divorced. That changed the relationship with my mom, who became very demanding in my demonstration of my behavior towards her. I'd hear things like, "If you really loved me, you'd...." Conditional love is what that's called, and it is impossible to meet. Some days I got along well with her, and then there were other days. I'd go on, but then it would sound like I'm on a therapist's couch.

It's hard being a parent, and I speak from first-hand experience. I believe, in many ways, it is very difficult today given the amount of options kids now have to be into mischief. You can learn all you like about technology, and I think I know enough to be honest, but set a rule about its use and see how kids can find a way to get around that rule.

I've been thinking that the men's ministry needs to start a thread on being a dad in the modern age. Have Saturday sessions on that for men as dads. More on that later, but I think it would be good to do because the task is so huge these days.

One thing that is an observation for me is the notion that the command isn't "be a great mom and dad for your kids" (although there are scripture passages that deal with a mom and dad's role in the development of the child). It is a passage for our children. Honor your father and mother. In the church, we expand that to people in authority. Who are they? Police, people who govern, teachers, employers, and others who are there to manage affairs in life.

How do we do at teaching kids about honoring parents and those in authority?

We will examine that during the week. In short, pray to God for wisdom to guide and direct children in a manner that is one that dignifies them as people. Correction and punishment come from love as well.

Pray with me: Gracious God, we give thanks for your love for us to give us children as stewards in your kingdom. Help me to be a parent that honors this love you've shown to me and guide me in how to be a parent that honors you by teaching, loving, and correcting my children as they learn to grow in you, pray and worship you, and to love one another. In your Son's name, Amen