“Bless-able”

September 7, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 4:26-27

This morning I was blessed by 5 minutes of prayer with Pastor Tony Alstott from Wesley Chapel UMC. He is faithful to daily bring me, via Facebook Live, to different locations to read scripture and pray as the scripture inspires him. Today’s scripture for this morning was Psalm 127, parts for this meditation today: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain…Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him…” At the end of the reading and prayer he invites us to repeat the words from 1 Samuel 3:10; “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening”. He concluded this listening time with what God revealed to him; consider carefully the “To Do” list for the day. In other words; Unless the Lord builds your “To Do” list, you labor in vain. I couldn’t help but see how God was showing me a connection with my plans, my work, my family and the 5th commandment of God for today’s study.

Exodus 20:12 from NIV reads: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” How we choose to honor our parents, or not is a very personal thing. Some reading today have had a very difficult time with one or both parents, and may have come to the conclusion, that it is just best to not deal with them at all. Some reading today have experienced the death of their parents, like my husband and I, and you may be wondering how you are expected to honor them now. Some reading this meditation today are right in the midst of an unbelievably painful relationship with their parents, and yet God’s command is the same for all. Yes, this is very personal and very hard to obey. Be encouraged that our creator God, who knows all things, is not asking anyone to be a doormat, or allow abuse or neglect to continue. God is interested in your life and welfare and because of his love for you, God’s desire is that you honor/respect your parents not because they have always deserved it, but because you deserve to be free of unforgiveness, and bitterness which can lock up your life in the past, even if it is a very recent past.

Ephesians 4: 26-27 is a good reminder; “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold.” There it is; not only for children and parents, but for all our relationships. When we choose not to forgive, we are giving the devil a foothold to climb all over our lives. In reality, we are most likely hurting ourselves more than the one we choose not to forgive. Forgiveness is powerful, and I believe only fully possible in relationship with Jesus Christ who gave himself for all to be set free. You are loved right where you are, and if you are the parent that the kids won’t forgive, simply ask the Lord to help you become more “bless-able” so that you can become a blessing, maybe this should be on your “To Do” list today.

AMEN!