Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table (Psalm 128:3). Father in heaven, we thank You today for the blessing of children. We ask that Thy grace and mercy might lead them unto Thy path of righteousness and domestic obedience.

Today’s Hymn

Words: John Newton, Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779). Exception: the last stanza is by an unknown author; it appeared as early as 1829 in the Baptist Songster, by R. Winchell (Wethersfield, Connecticut), as the last stanza of the song “Jerusalem My Happy Home.”

This is probably the most popular hymn in the English language-a television documentary was even made about it. Perhaps it is because its words so well describe the author: John Newton was a slave trader before coming to Christ. It was sung at the funeral of American president Ronald Reagan.

AMAZING GRACE
Click here for tune.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

Thought Provoker

What is one of the first verses that every Christian parent has their children memorize? That’s right; Ephesians 6:1 Children obey your parents—-. Every parent wants his children to learn at an early age that obedience within the home is more than a parental desire; it is a God-given command! I have preached on this passage many times, but I saw something this week for the first time. This passage is written directly to children. It does not say, parents be sure your children obey you. It is God’s will, spoken directly to the child. This letter was written to the church at Ephesus. It was written to be read to the whole congregation. Paul must have had in mind that there would be children sitting right next to their parents during the time of public worship and Scripture reading. Although All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), today’s passage is speaking directly to your kids.

Dad’s Study

We see great men of God like Spurgeon, John Bunyan, and George Whitfield, who glorified God by faithfully fulfilling the ministries to which God had called them. Many of the great men of God were blessed with Godly wives who glorified God by faithfully fulfilling their domestic duties as wives and mothers. Can a child glorify God? If you are too young to serve the Lord with your spiritual gift or to marry and have children and raise a Godly seed, is it possible to please God through your young life? Absolutely! How? By faithfully fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. What is that special purpose? Simply to obey your parents in the Lord (v. 1)! God has designed parents to represent God to the child. God mediates His will for the child through the childhood years. To honour parents is to honour God. To love parents is to love God. To obey parents is to obey God.

• Read together the Old Testament consequences for continual disobedience to parents (Lev. 20:9; Deut. 21:18-21). Discuss together why the penalty was so severe.

Paul is restating the fifth commandment in New Testament terms (Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16) and reminding children that obedience to this commandment comes with a promise.

• Read together verses 2-3 and discuss what promise God makes to children who honour and obey their parents. Is this an absolute promise or a general principle of life?

This seems to be a general principle rather than an absolute promise. There are exceptions, like our dear friends who were faithfully laboring for our Lord in Mexico when their young son was called into the heavenly presence of God before his tenth birthday. I have personally seen the principle Paul is reminding us of fleshed out in families with disobedient children who have committed suicide, died in automobile wrecks, or have been shot to death.

How long should this duty to obey continue? Until the child reaches adulthood or marries. However, the duty to honour continues for a lifetime.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Here are some practical questions that you should discuss with your family:

• Ask your children to examine their young hearts. Are their lives characterized by obedience to their parents, or disobedience?

• Is their obedience first time obedience or delayed obedience? (Remember, delayed obedience is disobedience).

• Does a heart of joyfully honoring Mom and Dad or external conformity drive their obedience?

May God be glorified in each of our homes as He conforms all of our lives into His perfect will.

Catechism

Question 16

Q. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

A. The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery (Romans 5:18).

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth (Psalm 47). O gracious Father, we join with your people everywhere clapping our hands in praise unto Thee! Please cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We bow before you as the King over all the earth, Amen!

Today’s Hymn

Words: Charles I. Junkin, 1909. Music: Junkin, George C. Stebbins.

JESUS, FRIEND OF SINNERS
Click here for tune.

Jesus, Friend of sinners, hast Thou love for me?
Son of God the Holy, Man of mystery,
Lover of the children, Teacher of the wise,
Let me read the secret in Thy friendly eyes.

Jesus, Friend of sinners, Thou hast read my heart,
Searching its recesses with a lover’s art;
Naught have I withholden, nothing hid from Thee-
Waste, or want, or folly-things that should not be.

Jesus, Friend of sinners, Thou hast touched my soul,
Not with scornful pity, not with beggar’s dole;
Thou hast not despisèd men that faint or fall,
Tenderer than brother, for Thou knowest all.

Jesus, Friend of sinners, bid me follow Thee,
O’er the rugged highways, e’en to Calvary;
Let me know Thy Spirit, sweet and strong and wise;
I would win the friendship in Thy loving eyes.

Jesus, Friend of sinners, hold me by Thy side,
Till the shadows deepen tow’rd the eventide;
To Thy strength and beauty I would ever bend,
Till, in dawn eternal, Friend shall be as friend!

Thought Provoker

I was recently asked, what I thought the key was to a happy marriage. A family member of a friend of mine was collecting these pearls of wisdom to give to a friend as a wedding gift. Now, if you had to sum up instructions for a happy marriage in a few words, what would you answer? While contemplating this request my mind was immediately drawn to Ephesians 5. Here we find God’s instructions for a happy marriage.

Dad’s Study

Paul uses the illustration of marriage to teach us about our relationship to Christ in His Church. In so doing, His teaching has a double meaning, giving great insight into what marriage is to be like. In a way, verses 22-33 are a double parable, each side teaching about the other. So, what is the key to a happy marriage? It is following God’s plan for marriage by husband and wife each understanding their role in this sacred union and how they are to discharge their roles and duties before God. Here, Paul gives only one instruction each to the husband and wife.

1. Husbands, love your wives (Ephesians 5:25).

Husbands are to love their wives. This command sums up the entirety of the husband’s duties. Paul also gives insight into how to do this:

A. Love your wife as Christ loved the church. This is a self-sacrificing love, one in which the husband gives up any claim to himself, his time, and his interests. The interests of the wife come first that the husband might sanctify her, set her apart to God. He is to instruct and exhort in the Word that she might be pure and undefiled before God, holy and blameless, having no blemish in her.

B. Love your wife just as you love yourself. When husband and wife are united in marriage they become one flesh. Husbands, when you love your wife, you are loving yourself because you are united to her as one flesh. Just as you nourish your own body with food and rest, you are to nourish your wife. Nourish her in the Word; cherish her as the precious gift from God that she is. Protect her and provide for her that she would be blessed.

2. Wives, be subject to your own husbands (Ephesians 5:22). 

Wives are simply to submit to their husbands. Wives are to place themselves under the loving headship, care, provision, and protection of their husbands, who stand ready to give themselves up for them. Wives are to be subject to their husbands in everything. There is no part of their life that is exempt from the headship of their husband. This should not cause fear for the wife, especially when the husband exercises the Christ-like love for his wife that the scriptures command. This is a joyous submission that results in a peaceful and joyful marriage for the wife. This type of submission is made manifest by the wife having respect for her husband (verse 33). When the wife submits to the headship of her husband in all deference, every interaction with or regarding her husband will demonstrate the respect she has for her loving head.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Do you want a happy marriage? If so, husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and wives submit to you husbands in all things In this and this only, will God bless your marriage because this is His plan for a happy marriage. Your children are never too young to learn these important principles.

Catechism

Question 15

Q. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression (1Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:12).