Commandment Given

On yesterday’s sharing we all were asked to surprise a father. We weren’t told which father or who we wanted to surprise, specially, but I’m sure we were prompted, guided and led by the Holy Spirit in this action as well. I must confess that I took it seriously and paid tribute to a very young, first-time father. I took it seriously, for I believed that it was what our Lord wanted me to do. What about you? Did you honour a father, whether old or young?

I also believe that in honouring our Lord’s request, in doing as He asked, He has blessed some father, or fathers with special favour, because we did as He asked. Whether we understood what we did or not, matters not to the outcome of our Lord’s planned blessing. What I do know, however, is that I too have come to see fathers in greater, enlightened light. May we all be further enlightened, as we listen to Jesus’ words to the rich young man. This man had come to Jesus, his Spiritual Father, with a life-ensuring request. Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life? Matthew 19: 16b

Jesus points him to the obedience of the commandments. When asked which ones, Jesus spoke about not murdering, not committing adultery, not stealing and not giving false testimony. Then Jesus leaves the things he must not do and goes to what he must do. Honor your father and mother and love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 19: 19. All that has flashed through me like a bolt of lightning, are these words, honor your father and mother. Like you I know the commandment well, and I can quote it without hesitation or fear. However, I am hearing some things which have me totally taken down, in thought, word and deed.

As ridiculous and utter senseless as this may be, I did think it. When I heard our Teacher say, Honour your father and mother, I thought, how can I, when I have no father since he’s been dead a long time now. It is here that I was told some practical, Biblical truths about my attitude and thoughts towards fathers, dead or alive, present or absent.

I tell you, this command never convicted me as it has today. In chatting with a friend, I told her about how the Spirit convicted and challenged me on the matter and how I was totally guilty of all He said to me. As she listened, she too had to concur, for she was just as guilty as I.

These are but three of such convicting, piercing truths.

• Honour your father and mother, not just your mother.

• Honour your father and mother; not put less emphasis on father, compared with mother.

• Honour your father and mother. Note the pronoun, your, in the verse. He is your father whether you like it or not.

Based on this understanding, we proceed tomorrow.