Text: 2 Samuel 1:17-27
Memory text:
“Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, …older women as mothers, …”
‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Your response to the instructions of God is simply an expression of your faith in that word. If you believe the word is true, you will delight yourself to do as it commands. You must be intentional about practicing God’s recipes for a good and long life.
Wisdom warns, “If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.” (Prov 9:12 NLT). Don’t ridicule, disdain or mock wisdom, lest wisdom mocks you.
The word “father” or “mother” in the commandment to honour parents stands for any father or mother figure in your life, not only your biological parents. Saul was the first king of Israel and eventually became David’s master and father-in-law. However, David regarded Saul as a ‘father’ and honoured him throughout his life as such, even while he sought for his life. At one of such times, David said to Saul, “Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that, I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.” (I Sam‬ ‭24‬:‭11).
David knew the principles of honour, and so, he didn’t trample on his father in his fall or mock him in his shamefacedness, even with the opportunities to kill him and to take over his throne. He never took advantage of his failure but honoured him in life and in death. You will appreciate the sincerity of his honour in his lamentation, with his iconic descriptions! ““The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!” ‭‭(II Sam‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬).
Any father or mother figure in your life carries a blessing that you can draw from if you recognize and honour him or her as such. Paul charged Timothy to recognize an older man as a father and an older woman as a mother in his congregation (1 Tim 5:1-2). Yes, sometimes, they may be wrong, but you must never withdraw the honour due to them as fathers or mothers. Rather than rebuking or talking to them harshly, respectfully appeal to them.
Friends, God faithfully rewards every seed of honour sown in obedience to His commandment to honour a father or a mother. Whether you have a biological parent or not, you have a God-given opportunity around you to draw blessing by honouring a father or mother figure in your life.

Prayer points
1. Father, please, let me recognize and honour the father and mother figures You have placed in my life, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, help me to always draw blessings and to prolong my life by sowing a seed of honour to a father or mother figure in my life, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. God rewards every seed of honour I sow in obedience to His commandment to honour a father or a mother.
2. I will not speak harshly to a father or a mother figure in my life even when he or she does wrong, but I will appeal to him or her respectfully and honourably.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng