Inductive Bible Study February 18

IBS Thursday February 18

Ephesians 6:1

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Colossians 3:20

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

“Obey your parents, and you will live a long life.” This is a phrase that my mom reminded me of many times growing up. She always told me, “God promises a long and good life if you obey your parents.” It almost became clique, but she really ingrained it in my head.

Reading on in Ephesians chapter six, I see that God really does promise, “That it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” This was not a selfish phrase my mom said to me to get me to submit to her authority as a child; it was a true promise from God. Ephesians goes on to say, “Not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bond servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”

Although I am no longer under my parents’ authority, this promise extends to being other the authority of others as well. Right now, I do not have much personal freedom because I submitted myself to the authority of Potter’s Field Ministries, but I am doing the Lord’s work. The reason I am here is to serve unto the Lord, and by obeying the authority of Potter’s Field Ministries with my heart towards God, I am doing good. That good God will reward.

Application: The next time I find myself in a situation when I am given the option to obey or not obey, I am going to recognize that I am doing service as to the Lord, and not to men, and that God will reward whatever good I do.