“Those Who Honor Me I Will Honor”
Eli’s
sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.
1 Samuel 2:12
Now a man of God came
to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says:
‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in
“Therefore
the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of
your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will
honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. The time is coming when I will cut
short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in
it will reach old age, and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to
“‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”’”
1 Samuel 2:27-36
Our families are important, but eternal life with our heavenly Father is more critical. It is your responsibility to bring your children up to honor God. It is your responsibility to correct them when they need it. It is your responsibility to keep them from having bad behaviors, rebelling, and putting their own needs out in front of God’s desires for their lives.
Lovingly discipline your children or you and they may never see God’s wisdom in your life and theirs. Help them to grow into God-fearing adults.
Failure to discipline our children is a failure to love them.
Our Daily Bread –