Jeffrey C. Long

Honor your father and your mother; this is the first commandment with a promise. (Ephesians 6:2)

It must be noticed that this commandment does not say, “Love your father and your mother,” but, Honor your father and your mother. To honor one another is extremely important next to love. There is no real love without honoring one another and respecting one another. Every type of love has its special honor, a respectful attitude even if we are dealing with very lowly people, even beggars. If we show no respect to beggars the greatest contribution is worth nothing to them, at least, it certainly does not invite love. If you leave out honor, you dull the edge of love.

The same is true of love to the good Lord. You can be ever so devoted and affectionate with Him, and yet if you do not do His good pleasure by keeping His commandments simply because He has commanded them, your love for God is nothing. Isn’t that right? We have a lot to learn. Oh, how everything could be said with one word if we only had the understanding to receive it!

Translation by Monty Ledford

Technorati Tags: blumhardt