Every day we’re becoming increasingly aware of Asher’s need to learn obedience. He’s always been a mostly compliant child, but lately he’s been testing the waters of doing what he shouldn’t, or what he wants instead of what Mummy or Daddy have asked him. The other day he emptied his dresser drawer, probably because it was fun, even though I had asked him not to before I left the room.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honour your father and mother’– which is the first commandment with a promise – ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’” Ephesians 6:1-3
I’m certain we’ve heard this passage recited to us a time or two, especially as children. But why do we need to learn obedience? Why do we teach our children obedience? They have been placed in our care, and the Bible commands children to obey their parents. But there’s another part to this “obedience thing” that is important, too. It helps to bring about the obedience of faith that’s required to come to the Lord (Romans 1:5). As our children grow and learn to obey their parents and other God-given authorities, they also learn to obey God out of faith.
Teaching our son obedience has reminded me that it’s important to practice obedience to God. He does discipline us, too (Hebrews 12:7). Oh, is that hard to endure, but it puts into perspective my teaching obedience to Asher. It will be beneficial (in many, many ways) into the future.
Obedience to God is a life-long lesson to be learned. I’m still learning to obey God in my life. This motivates me to teach my son to obey so that he may one day learn to obey the Father, too.
