Category Archives: Blessing

“Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise)…” (Ephesians 6:2)

The word honor means “to value; to highly esteem something.” Practically, to honor your parents means to speak well of them, to be respectful to them, and to look for ways to serve them.

This was written not just for the benefit of younger children, but for all of us.

That’s why it’s so important for any of you that are working in a position of leadership with young people – your goal is not to win the hearts of those young people so that they’ll listen to you and do what you tell them. Your goal is to turn the hearts of those young people toward their parents.

This was a major emphasis of the ministry of John the Baptist. The very last verse of the Old Testament tells us that an overlooked aspect of his ministry was “to turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers…” (Malachi 4:6).

Honoring your parents comes with an incredible promise – “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:3).

As you read through the Bible you discover that it is full of precious promises. What we don’t often realize is that many of these promises are conditional (e.g. Psalm 37:4; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 26:3). When we fulfill the condition, we are then able to benefit from the blessing of the promise.

And the same is true of this promise in Ephesians chapter six. Do you know someone and things don’t seem to be going well for them? Many times it can be traced back to a violation of this commandment to honor those that God has placed in authority over us.

Your parents may have made major mistakes. They may have failed in many ways. But that’s not your responsibility. Ever since the Garden of Eden, God has been working through imperfect parents to accomplish His purposes.

Your responsibility is to honor them – to speak well of them, to be respectful to them, and to look for ways to serve them. If you have failed to show honor to them in the past, then you need to humble yourself and ask their forgiveness.

Look for ways today to show honor to your parents.

Morris Hull
Home Life Ministries

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“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7).

The sins of the fathers are passed down to the children to the third and fourth generation (Numbers 14:18). But thank God, the opposite is also true.

The blessings of a Godly life are also passed down through the generations. When we as parents are willing to die to self, deal with sin, and develop the character of Christ – we pass on to our children a Godly heritage.

A number of years ago I attended a conference where the life and legacy of Jonathan Edwards was being addressed. By the year 1900, his descendants included 300 clergymen (pastors, missionaries and theologians), 100 attorneys, 60 judges (one dean of a law school), 60 doctors (one dean of a medical school), 60 authors of fine classics, 100 professors and 14 presidents of universities, 3 mayors of large cities, 3 state governors, a controller of the US Treasury and a Vice-President of the United States.

It was said that Jonathan Edwards not only prayed for the salvation of his children and grandchildren but for the unborn future generations of his family.

I remarked of this to some new friends we were having dinner with. The husband said, “You don’t know, do you? My wife’s maiden name is Edwards. She’s a direct descendant of Jonathan Edwards.” They themselves were missionaries and they went on to share of other present day members of the Edwards family that were making an impact upon their generation for Jesus Christ.

Purpose to pass on to your children the blessings of a Godly heritage.

Morris Hull
Home Life Ministries

A study was actually done in the year 1900 following the Godly legacy of Jonathan Edwards. That study can be found at: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15623/15623-h/15623-h.htm

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“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18:21).

Words are incredibly powerful – by the words we speak we have the ability to encourage and impart life or to bring about death and destruction to our relationships.

This has to be a choice – a lifestyle you choose for yourself. If you are typically a negative person then you must realize the awful damage that can be done by your harsh, critical words. One of the major reasons why we as Christians are loosing our children to the world is not because we are being over-protective or because our standards are too high; but because of the negative, critical atmosphere in many Christian homes. If all your children are hearing from you is negative and criticism then you are sowing the seeds of bitterness and rebellion in the lives of your sons and daughters.

Many parents fail to realize the curses they pass on to their children through statements like, “You never do anything right.” You need to break the power of these curses spoken over the lives of those in your family by the blessings you speak. Replace your natural tendency to be critical with words of affirmation and encouragement and blessing.

Evaluate the words you speak today. David said, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).

There is so much negativity in the world today – we don’t need it in our homes and churches. It doesn’t belong there. Let’s rid our lives of that negative, critical attitude; and let’s choose life by choosing to bless, not curse.

Morris Hull
Home Life Ministries

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