Today’s
scripture:
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;
for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 NKJV)
Now that we have a better understanding of seeing the Lord’s
mercy for us through His first four laws, we will start to venture through the
next six commandments that will show us what the Lord has to say about loving
others. Let me start by saying this will require a dying to self attitude. A
“taking up your cross” if you will.
Lets
look at the fifth of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may
be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” – This is the
only commandment that gives a direct promise that if you follow it things will
go well with you. It is also a picture of the reality of how things will go on
as we live our life (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Now, the ways of the world is full of deceit and corruption.
God’s hand is on those who obey His will (Psalm 37:4). If we stray from that,
His hand comes off. So, without His protection, what can we expect as we live
with corruption all around us.
The Hebrew word for honor is kabad,
meaning to give glory to or to promote. So, what if you have parents who have
been abusive or treated you very badly? Are we supposed to honor them? Let me
just say first, you need to start with forgiveness. We all were created to
glorify God. Some choose to go their own way. Look at those who have wronged
you as the person God created them TO be, not what they have chosen to be. Then
honor them based on that fact rather on your feelings toward them or even what
they have done to you.
There was something in their life that got them off the path to
God even if it’s just being born into a fallen world. Praying mercy for them is
a way to honor them (Matthew 5:44). Honoring them is in no way approving what
they have done. It’s a mercy to them and also a protection for you. Its just
the way God’s law works. If you sow seeds of honor, you will reap honor. If you
sow bitterness and hate you will reap that by becoming that on which you have
judged.
This doesn’t just apply to your parents but to anyone who has
wronged you. Most every time we are faced with bitterness in our heart because
of how someone has treated us, it is so incredibly difficult to treat that
person with love. More specifically, with Agape type of love. That is perfect
love. To die to self and what we think our rights are or what we are entitled
to. To bypass our feelings and act if the feelings don’t even matter, because
they don’t, not at least of how we respond from them.
The greatest thing that God has told me about perfect love is
you don’t have to wait to feel the love to give the love. You get opportunities
all the time to ignore your feelings and love with action. The feelings don’t
have the power to control you. Rather, You control your feelings by acting
first and letting your feelings follow by what you do. That is why mercy is so
important. That is why agape love is a part of mercy. It is love in action.
Reflection:
The
mercy in this scripture of the 5th commandment is that God wants to
bless us. But how can we receive that blessing if we don’t obey His commands.
His promises are almost always on conditions. “He will do this if we do that”. Just
as gravity is a reality and true, so it is with God’s law. Yes, there is grace
but without His protection in your life by obeying His law, what can you expect
but to reap bad fruit?
Challenge:
If you
have someone in your life that you still hold some bitterness or hate, then go
to them and ask for forgiveness. Let your father and mother know how much you
appreciate them. And if they are no longer on this Earth then you can still
honor them by telling God or someone else how much you appreciate them. Then
you will reap God’s mercy by unburdening yourself with that curse.
-Doug McGowan
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