FOR THIS IS RIGHT
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise— that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. (Ephesians 6:1-3)
Certain legalistic viewpoints take the scriptures completely out of context to suite their cult-like, unloving, right in their own eyes ways of living. Nowhere in scripture does it give you permission to write off, disregard, or neglect your own flesh and blood.
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-27)
If you look at the passages around these verses you will find that the people were making many statements and most of them were making excuses. I earnestly believe that Jesus is saying DO NOT LET ANYTHING come between you and I. Not yourself, not your spouse, your parents, your property, your plans etc., He has also told us to love your neighbor as yourself and do unto others as you would have done unto you. And what you do unto the least of these you have done it unto me.
Sometimes bearing the cross looks like staying when you want to leave. Sometimes bearing the cross might be keeping your mouth shut when you want to speak all of your mind. Sometimes bearing the cross is keeping no record of wrongs and continuing to love because Jesus loves you. Coming after Jesus is opening his word and hiding it in your heart and actively intentionally living it out. Coming after Jesus is casting your cares and trusting him with what you cannot see and believing in His faithfulness to work all things together for the good.
Your parents should be honored whether you think they deserve honor or not. They should be respected and cared for and looked after, especially in their older age. They are not worthless in the eyes of God, they are precious in his sight. Only a godless generation who are right in their own eyes would neglect the hearts and lives of those that God has given to us.
Pray and ask God what you can do to show your parents they are loved, to tell them how much they mean to you, and to show your thankfulness for all their years of sacrifice and for doing their best with what they had. Do not withhold any good thing when it's in your power to give it...that includes hugs.
Certain legalistic viewpoints take the scriptures completely out of context to suite their cult-like, unloving, right in their own eyes ways of living. Nowhere in scripture does it give you permission to write off, disregard, or neglect your own flesh and blood.
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-27)
If you look at the passages around these verses you will find that the people were making many statements and most of them were making excuses. I earnestly believe that Jesus is saying DO NOT LET ANYTHING come between you and I. Not yourself, not your spouse, your parents, your property, your plans etc., He has also told us to love your neighbor as yourself and do unto others as you would have done unto you. And what you do unto the least of these you have done it unto me.
Sometimes bearing the cross looks like staying when you want to leave. Sometimes bearing the cross might be keeping your mouth shut when you want to speak all of your mind. Sometimes bearing the cross is keeping no record of wrongs and continuing to love because Jesus loves you. Coming after Jesus is opening his word and hiding it in your heart and actively intentionally living it out. Coming after Jesus is casting your cares and trusting him with what you cannot see and believing in His faithfulness to work all things together for the good.
Your parents should be honored whether you think they deserve honor or not. They should be respected and cared for and looked after, especially in their older age. They are not worthless in the eyes of God, they are precious in his sight. Only a godless generation who are right in their own eyes would neglect the hearts and lives of those that God has given to us.
Pray and ask God what you can do to show your parents they are loved, to tell them how much they mean to you, and to show your thankfulness for all their years of sacrifice and for doing their best with what they had. Do not withhold any good thing when it's in your power to give it...that includes hugs.
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