Matthew 23:9
“And call no man your father on earth, for you have
one Father, who is in heaven.”
We are commanded to honor our father and
mother, yet Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:27, “Whoever loves father or mother
more than Me is not worthy of me…” The greatest commandment gives the most
clarity on this son to parent relationship in Matthew 22:37-40, “You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it; you
shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the
Law and the Prophets.” What I believe God is saying is obey me first and
foremost. He is the ultimate authority I am to obey. I am to honor my parents
but God’s guidance is to be the judge of my decisions.
The decisions I’ve had to make so far in
my life have largely been influenced by my parents’ guidance. Doing sports,
traveling, going to college, getting jobs, and future plans have been or are
issues that I’ve had to bring before my parents, as well as many others.
Perhaps the decision of the most tension and debate between my parents and I
has been of going to university. After finishing my Associates Degree from
community college while finishing high school, I was given the opportunity to
go to the Potter’s Field Ministries Ignite Program. I knew God wanted me to go
but it became a trial I had to walk through between my parents will and God’s
will for my future. I did want to go to honor my parents by going to university
but I knew I needed to obey God’s will, which was to spend a year away from
home, seeking the Lord before I made any more moves that affected my future.
Seven months into this program, I knew I made the right decision by obeying my
heavenly Father. Obeying my heavenly Father’s guidance has opened so many
opportunities and given me so many amazing experiences. I have learned and
continued to learn a lot about God and trusting Him in this time that I could
have only got by saying yes to His counsel.
This does not rule out honoring my parents
because it’s a commandment still. I do need more wisdom on my future and
honoring my parents and that’s why this verse popped out to me when I read it.
I do have a dad but he’s not my heavenly Father. I love my dad very much and
want to show him respect the way God would have me. My dad really wants me to
go to university, at least for my Bachelor’s in Business Degree. I want to go
but I haven’t gotten clear counsel from the Lord about it. The opportunity is
not very clear right now, but I can trust in God that He will give me counsel
and wisdom on where to make the next move when the time is right.
Application:
Pray and seek the Lord for wisdom and counsel from God on how to make decisions
about life, particularly about going to university and what lies ahead of this
season. Also, I will seek the Lord for how I can be obedient to Him and honor
Him in the season I am in now so I don’t miss out on His presence now and how
He would speak to me today, even concerning my future. Also, I will pray for a
stronger trust in Him and letting Him be my Father, teaching me the way He
would chose and guiding me in His ways.
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