SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Scripture: Exodus 20:12

Verse 12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” We are told to treat our parents with reverence and respect. We honor them and show them deference and respect because of their place in our lives. Honoring parents lays a foundation for deferring to and respecting other authority figures in our lives. Showing proper respect for those set over us is a benefit to families, communities and beyond. There is more order and discipline on a larger scale when parents are esteemed. We acknowledge that this commandment presents a challenge in cases of parental cruelty and abuse that change the parent/child relationship. We must seek God as to how to honor parents in these hard cases. May God provide ‘spiritual parents’ for those who have no parental role model!