Keep Showing God's Love!

Scripture: "I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself. In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:1-3).

Do you know about The Ten Commandments? They were given to the Hebrew people by God. Their purpose was to teach people how to love and honor God, and how to live happily with one another. The Fifth Commandment instructs God's people to "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12).

Love for Family

What is the best way to keep showing honor to your parents, and showing love and respect for your relatives? The greatest way is by sharing the love of God with them and others. This love includes being "patient and kind" (1 Corinthians 13:4) toward them, and sharing God's Good News of eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Honor for Parents

Sometimes, children can help their parents find the path to eternal life with Jesus. If your parents don’t know Jesus as their Savior, don't be discouraged if they don't turn to Him at first. Jesus knew that His message could "set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother" (Matthew 10:35). Even so, keep showing God's love with respect for your elders: "obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do" (Ephesians 6:1). And do not despair, for God promised "I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters" (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Instruction for Children

What if you are a parent who wants to keep sharing the Gospel with your children? The Apostle Paul taught, "do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord" (Colossians 1:10). Showing God's love to them sometimes means parents should be selfless because "love does not demand it’s own way" (1 Corinthians 13:5). But God's Word lets us know that if we "train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).