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“Parents always say “my children don’t listen to me! My children are trying to impose themselves on me!” And children are saying “my parents are dictators! They want to impose their will on me! They don’t know that I’m also a human being and I have my own will!” So, there is always that tension between parents and children.

The Duty of Children. The Limits of Parents

Paul tells us in Colossians that if you want to live in parent child relationship in a manner that glorifies Jesus – in a manner that honours God – well, children have a duty. Their duty, their responsibility, is to obey their parents. And parents have limits. The limit is for parents not to irritate – not to provoke – not to render their children fearful and bitter. Not to discourage their children. And Paul says if that’s what happens; if that’s the dynamic of the life in the family, then it will be a family that honours God. It will be a family that honours Jesus.

It’s only as we are seeking to honour God that we will honour our parents.

We Need God

But this must go beyond just a father-son or daughter-mother relationship. Because it’s only as we are obeying God that we will be able to obey our parents. For it’s only as we are seeking to honour God that we will honour our parents. Indeed, it’s only as we’ve experienced the compassion and the grace and the love of God that we will be able to love our children and not provoke them. And not irritate them; not discourage them.”

Listen to Nic Kyalangalilwa as he works through Colossians 3:20-21. He explores the duties of children, the limits of parents in guiding their children and place of Christ in the family. Nic helps us answer these critical questions: How do we live in our families – as children or as parents – giving thanks to Jesus? How do we live “in a manner worthy of the Lord”? How do we live in our families in a way that glorifies and honours God?

Text: Colossians 3:20-21

Date preached: 16 June 2019

Location: Le Phare Church, Bukhavu, DRC-Congo

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