“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).
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 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.
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).
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.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Continue reading
In this concluding article on the marriage vows, we want to emphasize the commitment part of these lifelong vows, A vow is a solemn promise, a commitment that binds us as partners to be faithful to our marriage in every detail. “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore shouldest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6).
Part 2
Here are the marriage vows for a bride: “Will you in the presence of God and these witnesses, take _____ to be your wedded husband, will you love and cherish him, in health and in sickness, in prosperity and adversity, share with him the joys and sorrows of life, exercise patience, kindness, and forbearance toward him, and live with him in peace as becometh a faithful Christian wife and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live.”