God's law is the key to an enjoyable life in which things go well.
Ephesians 6:1-3 (NIV)
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Listen to passage & devotional:
Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 25: The Fulfillment of the Law
We believe
that the ceremonies and symbols of the law have ended
with the coming of Christ,
and that all foreshadowings have come to an end,
so that the use of them ought to be abolished
among Christians.
Yet the truth and substance of these things
remain for us in Jesus Christ,
in whom they have been fulfilled.
Nevertheless,
we continue to use the witnesses
drawn from the law and prophets
to confirm us in the gospel
and to regulate our lives with full integrity
for the glory of God,
according to his will.
Summary
Christianity is an all inclusive belief system. A person can't just live in a Christian manner in some parts of life but not others. The earth is the Lord's and everything in it. the world, and all who live in it" (Psalm 24:1). This means that everything in the world, if it is to be good, wholesome and beneficial, must be conducted according to God's Word.
The fact that the final chapter of one of Paul's most important letters begins with instructions directed to children likely shocked many of the first people who read it. Children were an afterthought in that Roman society, and were often considered little more than household property. It may be, from time to time, that the children participated in household religious rituals, but they were certainly never directly addressed or given specific instructions as the Apostle Paul does here.
Paul brings this simple reminder to these youngest church members for two reasons. First, he's simply repeating the command God had given to His covenant children thousands of years prior to honor and obey one's parents. But more than that, Paul shows that this command wasn't just an arbitrary religious expectation, but rather was the key to an 'enjoyable' life that 'goes well with you.'
Dig Deeper
In Reformed Theology, the law is often compared to a mirror. As you look at the 'mirror' law, you see your own reflection compared to the ideal God had set forth, and the subsequent shame and guilt drives you to the cross where you're invited to confess and repent of your sin. This is certainly the primary purpose of the law, but not the only purpose of the law.
To fully enjoy an expertly crafted musical instrument, you need to do more than just look at it. You need to learn to play it the way it was designed. Certain things must be done to play it well, other things ought never to be done while playing it; such things would only obscure its beauty.
Our society sees God's Law simply as a clobber tool propagated simply to maintain the patriarchal system holding back society from its true potential. It shouldn't surprise you to learn that this is a lie, perpetrated by the father of lies.
Rather than an instrument of oppression, God's law is a guide for you to show your gratitude towards God for the grace you've been given, and the instructions you need “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father who designed us to live and thrive within the confines of His Law;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that as little children are commanded to honor their parents, that you too will honor the Lord your God in every aspect of your life;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Corinthians 9
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