Honor Your Parents

Chapter 1 (pp. 14-16)
Ephesians 6:2

I’ve had the blessing of speaking to groups all around the county, where I share about the faithfulness of God, I witnessed during my thirty-five years in prison. From rebellion to accepting Christ, to learning the servant-leader paradigm, God was always faithful and patient with me. As I spent time reading my Bible, I learned the importance of being faithful in order to influence others to live for Jesus. Often when sharing, I’ll stop and tell parents, “When you say, No to your children, stick to it. Don’t allow kids to change your mind. You’re the parent, you’re the wiser one!” The response is often a room full of smiles.

In Chapter One of Unshackled, I share how I didn’t listen to my mother that fateful night in June of 1977. She told me I was too young to join my older cousin to a bar, but I argued and ultimately convinced her to let me go. You will read in my book the painful consequences of that decision. The Bibles says, “[Children] Honor your mother and father… [Parents] bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:2-4) obviously I didn’t do that. This week, let’s pray for parents that they will take a bold stand in raising their children in the ways of the Lord.