The lost word in today's family

I believe there is a word that has been lost in it's usage and function in the family today. It's an ancient word that can be used as a verb or as a noun. The word is "honor". The verb definitions are to: "regard with great respect" or to "fulfill an obligation" or "to keep an agreement."

Grandson Urijah with his mom and dad, celebrating his mommy's birthday

It was an important enough word that God wrote it on a tablet and gave it to Moses to be shared with His people as one of the ten commandments. It's found in the Word of God, in the book of Exodus chapter 20 and verse 12 "Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."

This commandment from God is listed before the five "You shall nots." You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, you shall not covet anything of your neighbor(house, wife, stuff).

God must have wanted us to pay close attention to this commandment since He listed it before "murder". I understand that all of the commandments are important, but God is a God of order and He did list the commandments in an order. And yet I wonder, if this commandment is being taken that seriously in our society today and taught to our children and grand children as the Word of God commands?

Fathers and mothers are given their authority and responsibility of their children from God. Fathers and mothers are to be honored by their children as the authority in their lives.This authority given to fathers and mothers should not be taken lightly, as we will be held accountable to God for the authority we have been given.

In Deuteronomy 6:1-3 it says,“This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has instructed me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. ² Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all His statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. ³ Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey."

The men at New Beginnings on Wednesday nights are working through the study of the book "The Resolution for Men". The chapter we will be covering next week is called "Resolve to Live with Honor" and the subtitle is "I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly." Here are some quotes from Chapter 8 below:

"Our kids will most likely adopt our views on authority in their own lives as well. Whatever patterns we set for them will be the ones they use to train their own kids and so on."

"When you teach your children to honor authority, you are teaching them to better honor God. Consider what you're modeling to your children in the area of honoring authority:

• When you're at home, how do you talk about your leaders at work and church?
• What do your children hear you saying about the government or elected representatives? Even if you disagree with them, is your attitude respectful?
• Do they see you praying for your authorities?(1 Timothy 2:1-4)
• How do they see you respond to speed limits and state troopers?
• Does this match your talk about how God places authorities in our lives for our benefit?"

"If you don't train them to respect authority, and then they in turn quit respecting you, you will lose your influence and everything that goes with it. Honoring authority is a hallmark of godly men and their children."

I will leave you with these last few quotes from Chapter 8 of "The Resolution for Men" as they drive the point home:
"God has designed obedience and honor to be blessed with a fill life and an easier yoke. That's why He says: 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)

"It is a lie from the Enemy to believe that rebelling against and dishonoring authority brings more freedom and peace. Rather, Scripture says to "bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). When we do, God will begin using their own consciences to convict them of a standard they know to be right and true."


I pray that my grandson Urijah (pictured above), will understand honor by honoring his parents and that he will honor the Lord by passing down that training and understanding to his children and his grandchildren. In Jesus Name, Amen.


Terry Langenberg
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