As we continue to think about living a life filled with the Holy Spirit, we’ve looked at how that applies to wives and to husbands. Paul, then moves from the marriage relationship to the father-child relationship. He says that children who are Spirit-filled should obey their parents in the Lord. As long as a parent is not commanding their child to sin, a child should obey their parent.

Why should they do that? They should do that first and foremost because it’s right. God has given parents authority over their children. They are to love their children, lead their children, teach their children, and discipline their children. And children are to obey their parents. Disobeying your parents as a child is just plain wrong. It’s a serious sin. It’s dishonoring to their parents. Even all the way back in the early days of the nation of Israel, God wrote in the 10 Commandments, honor our father and mother. That’s the right thing to do.

But it’s not only the right thing to do, it’s also the blessed thing to do. Paul reminds us that in that commandment “honor your father and mother,” a promise is given along with it to us. A child who does this will have a good and long life. A child who is obedient comes under the blessing and protection of their parents and under the blessing and protection of God. And it will lead to a good life.

Parents, the question is, will you hold your child accountable to this command? Are you training your child in obedience? Do you allow your child to ignore you, back talk you, do what they want instead of what you want? Listen, your child is supposed to obey, but your role as parent is to train them in obedience. It’s not easy, but that’s what a holy parent does.

May your children obey, and may you make sure of it!

Change begins in you!