Reaching Out Magazine

Friends are people who stick by you no matter what happens. They care about you. They love you. They understand you. They rejoice with you. They suffer with you.

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“The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7).

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Mary, the mother of Jesus, is held in high esteem throughout Christendom. She should not be worshiped. She is not God. But it is right that she is admired. Her faith, her virtue, and her character deserve special attention and credit. Read Luke 1:26-38, 46-55 and learn why she could say, “From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).

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“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the lord, to do justice and judgment; that the lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Genesis 18:19).

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In the last issue, we concluded saying, parents should prioritize on character and attitude that ensure emotional stability. Attentiveness, honesty and contentment were given consideration. In this issue we will consider reverence and respect, gratitude, trust and forgiveness.

Reverence and Respect

Reverence is worship. It is a profound respect mixed with love, adoration, devotion, deep affection and honor. Parents, who reverence God, hold Him to be above everything seen and unseen. He is esteemed as creator and preserver of the universe. He is worshipped as the loving Father who provides for our salvation in a day by day experience.

Naturally we think of reverence as teaching children how to pray, sing and sit quietly during a worship service. It begins with helping them recite simple prayers, to participate in family devotions, and regularly attend church services.

True reverence is both ethical and practical. Not only is God esteemed in worship, He is esteemed to mean more than money, business, friends, personal ambitions, human love and self. As children see parents exalt God above everything, in all the details and circumstances of life, they have a basis to anchor their faith and trust.

In this time of economic fears and lost morals, we encourage every reader to give attention to reverencing the Almighty God. Give Him first place in all you do, and you will be rewarded. God has promised to honor them who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30).

Closely related to reverence for God is the respect we give to our fellow humans. The Bible narrows it down to loving our neighbor as ourselves, or to make it more meaningful, we voluntarily esteem them better than ourselves (Romans 12:10, Philippians 2:3) Esteeming others better than ourselves is a sure way to build lasting friendships and binding relationships. The old adage, “A friend in need is a friend indeed” is so true in securing emotional stability. What we give to others will come back to us. Parents and children benefit when they reverence God and respect those around them.

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Present-day American culture is testing the emotional fiber of our children. Broken marriages, husband/wife conflicts, both parents working outside the home, TVs and videos portraying violence, sex, and crime are contributing to fear and anxiety in the lives of many children.

Social workers are busy helping individuals identify their inability to cope with the stresses and demands of life. The number of Attention Deficit Disordered (ADD) children is increasing.

Modern technology, which includes video games, camera cell phones, ipods, and computers with Internet capabilities, are having a programming effect on children’s character and values. Our world of technology has raised the stress level to Orange, and in many situations, to Red. Are there alternatives?

Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me: for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

1. We must believe that Jesus Christ alone can save us. We have the promise in Matthew 28:20 that he will be with us, even to the end of the world That means in any culture, any circumstance or situation. The Holy Ghost reaffirms this promise in Romans 8:32. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things?” Salvation is trusting Christ everyday in every experience, to give us victory in every conflict.
2. We must separate ourselves from those things that will eventually separate us from God and seek the fellowship and encouragement of God’s people. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus says if we cause a little child to be offended (or to stumble) it were better for us to have a millstone hung around our neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea. How many children and youth are stumbling in life because they are exposed to TV, pornography, drugs, and the like? How many are offended when they become victims of anger and abuse?
3. Every child needs to feel accepted and loved. Acceptance and love provide security and safety from fear and danger. They lay a foundation for trust in God and His sovereign care. Love is to our emotions like an anchor is to a ship. It holds us steady in the midst of turbulent waves.
4. We must prioritize on things that build character and integrity.

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This article will be part one of a three-part series. We will consider God’s design for the home and family from three perspectives: Divine Wisdom, Divine Holiness, and Divine Love.

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