Honor

Exodus 20:12 tells us that we are to honor our mother and father. On Wednesday nights we are working through the 10 Commandments and as luck would have it this week we are on honoring your mother and father. The reason I say that it is lucky is because I didn't plan it that way. Proof that when you do things for God He makes sure we can't mess it up. It looks like I planned these things out perfectly with Fathers Day coming up, but truth is I didn't.
We are to "honor" them. It doesn't tell us to love them because that is automatic. It doesn't tell us to do anything outside of honor them. The word honor means to acknowledge the importance of something. In this case we are to acknowledge the importance of parents. They have given us physical life, shelter, food and clothing, love and direction. All of which we would not be where we are no matter the situation without some of these.
The second part of the verse brings results. This is the first commandment that gives results for following it. We are told to honor our mother and father so that we can live long in the land God has given us. How does that work?
By honor our parents we set a good example for our children. By honoring our parents we lessen stress in our lives, and we keep God's commandments. As I have mentioned before there is no list of importance on the commandments. We are to treat honor your mother and father with the same importance as not killing, stealing or coveting.
What is the best way to honor our parents? By showing them the respect, love and attention they deserve, after all they have done the same for us through out our "teenage years" and that is not an easy time for any parent.
So this weekend, honor your father. Make sure your kids see you doing it so that they understand this commandment!