what parents do

Today in the One Year Bible, we read in Romans chapter 1 verses 18 through 32. And Paul says something pretty profound, even though it's in passing. He's listing all of the nonsense that people get into when they turn their backs on God. And right in the middle of this list of horrible things, he says "And they disobey their parents." That phrase is so contrary to today's society that we're tempted to laugh when we read it. It seems silly and trivial compared to the other sins he's listing.

But when you step back and think about it, it really is profound. Because God has given every person who ever lived a great gift. He gave them parents. (OK, we'll leave the discussion of Adam and Eve for another time, since they technically didn't have parents.) When God created the family, He really knew what He was doing. Because often young men and women don't take their lives seriously enough. They are often out to have a good time and get the most out of life (not realizing that following God really does get you the most out of life.) But when they have kids, all of their priorities change (usually, in a healthy family, I mean. There are exceptions, unfortunately.) Suddenly, even if they weren't serious about God before, they take their kids to church. They teach them about God. They want their kids to do well, to have good lives, and they know that bringing them to God will help them do that.

So when most kids think about right and wrong, the little voice in their head that tells them the right thing to do is often the voice of one or both of their parents. God changes the lives of parents by giving them children, and changes the lives of children by giving them caring parents. (This is why our ancient enemy is so set on destroying the family - because God has designed it to bring people closer to Him.)

And one way the enemy disrupts this divine flow is by encouraging kids to "disobey their parents," as Paul points out. I don't mean breaking a rule here or there, or learning to be adults and make their own decisions. I mean when kids throw everything their parents teach them away and decide to live however they want. When they ignore the love their parents have for them, and choose the darkness of what they think they want instead.

So Paul was right on in saying that, among the deadly sins that we fall into when we turn away from God in our lives is "disobeying our parents." Because God created the family to give us the healthy boundaries we need. And ignoring those boundaries will plunge us right off the cliff.

God, thank You for giving us families. Help us to defend them against the enemy.