Love changes everything...

When God's love bursts into our life all of our relationships are forever changed. Last week Terry helped us see how in Ephesians 5, marriage is different in the light of God's love. We are to 'submit to one another out of reverence for Christ'.

Paul goes on to show in Ephesians 6 that parenting & even being parented looks and feels different for a Christ follower. These injunctions harken back to the last words spoken to the Israelites in OT times - Malachi 4:6 - 'He will convince parents to look after their children and children to look up to their parents.'

Too many hurts & wounds are carried deep within each of our souls because of ungodly parenting. Allow God's love to heal your past & give you a fresh start from this day forward.

Ephesians 5:1-2
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. "Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, "so you will live well and have a long life." Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.