Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Ephesians 6:1-4 – Parenting with Love
Written by: Pastor Paul Georgulis

“Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 ‘Honor your father and mother.’ This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, ‘things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.’ 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:1-4 (New Living Translation)

In yesterday’s passage, we saw the dynamics of a godly marriage and how husbands and wives are to treat and relate to one another. In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul continues to lay out what a Spirit-filled home looks like by focusing on the relationship between children and parents. Children and parents have a responsibility to each other. Children should honor their parents, and parents should care gently for their children.

Why did Paul single out the father as the one who should not exasperate his children, and who should bring his children up in the training and instruction of the Lord? That can be answered with one word: culture. In Paul’s culture, the father was the absolute head of the home, and as such, was responsible for the education and discipline of his children.

 Obviously we do not live in the same culture as Paul did, so things are a little different for us today. Now, “father”—in verse 4—can mean mothers and fathers, parents, and other guardians.

Parenting with love and discipline takes lots of patience and understanding. As a father of an eleven-year-old, nine-year-old, and four-year-old, I can promise you that patience and understanding are vital. Frustration and anger should not be causes for discipline. Instead, parents should discipline in love, wisely treating their children as Jesus would treat them. Parents must also be diligent to give their children the instruction and encouragement that is vital to their upbringing.

I would like to close with a set of questions. These questions are for you, and for me.
If you are a parent, do you read the Bible to your children? Do you tell them the great stories of the heroic men and women of the faith? Do you pray for and with them daily? Do you take them to worship services, small groups, Children’s Ministry, Sunday School, or youth group and let them see how important your involvement in church is to you? Can they see the difference Jesus makes in your life?

P.S. - If you don’t have children, perhaps you can apply this to nieces, nephews, friends’ children, and so on. You have a very special part in being a godly presence in those children’s lives.

Prayer:
Father God,
We thank you for allowing us to influence the lives of children. At times it can be very hard, but being a Christ-like, loving example is the best gift that we can give them. So please help us to do just that. Help us to be more like you, and to love more like you. Allow us to make a difference in the lives of the young people in our lives.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

Song: Good Good Father – Chris Tomlin - CLICK HERE