40 Days of Commitment
Daily Bible Studies for the Week of March 23, 2009
This Week’s Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4 NLT
1Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
Monday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we say it so often that it becomes a cliché: Children are the future of the church. I pray that You will empower us to be faithful parents and to rear our children in Your ways, so that they will, indeed be both part of the present AND the future of Your Church. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
1Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. NLT
Why does it matter that children belong to the Lord, when they consider obeying their parents?
How do you show obedience to your parents, if they are living, or respect for them if they have died?
Today’s Challenge: I will honor my parents by obedience if they are alive or respect if they have died today and every day!
Tuesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for the strength to honor my father and mother in whatever way is possible at this point in my life. I pray for those who have lost their parents to death, or who are estranged from their parents, and I pray for those whose parents have shown them the way to You. I pray that You will bless all families and draw them ever closer in Your household of faith. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
2“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: NLT
What is the promise associated with honoring our fathers and mothers? (Hint read tomorrow’s Scripture!)
How do you honor your father and mother in daily life?
Today’s Challenge: I will honor my father and mother!
Wednesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for creating the human family and making it the basic unit of relationship. I pray that You will bless the institution of family and bring it to wholeness. Strengthen Fathers and Mothers, and strengthen children by Your Holy Spirit that it may go well with all of us. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
3If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” NLT
Why would the Apostle Paul bring this statement from the Mosaic code to the minds and hearts of the Christians at Ephesus?
What is one example of it “going well” for those who honor their parents?
Today’s Challenge: I will honor my parents and expect God’s greater reward for that honor!
Thursday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for all earthly fathers and ask that You fill them with Your Holy Spirit so that they may truly bring up their children in the discipline and instruction that come from You. Strengthen them to do the right thing for their children regardless of what the world entices them to do. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. NLT
What does it mean for fathers not to provoke their children to anger by the way they treat them?
What does it look like when a Father brings up his children in the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord?
Today’s Challenge: I will uphold fathers in prayer that they may fulfill their role with love and discipline!
Friday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You that You make it clear in Your word that Your commands bring life and that they are to be passed on to our children and our children’s children. Give me the strength to be the kind of parent—biologically and spiritually that passes Your truth and life on to the next generation. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
Bonus Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-3: 1“These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the LORD your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. 3Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. NLT
What is the most important truth in this Scripture for parents?
What is the most important truth in this Scripture for children?
Today’s Challenge: I will teach the next generation of God’s love and His ways!
Saturday
Prayer: Heavenly Father I pray that You will empower me and all of us who read this study to grow up in the faith, and to honor You with our lives. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
Bonus Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-3: 1So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. NLT
What are the six elementary teachings of the faith? How are you living them and passing them on to others?
Today’s Challenge: I will live the six basic teachings by God’s grace