R-E-S-P-E-C-T – Today’s Family Devotion

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

RESPECT IS RIGHT.

Bible Reading of the Day: Read Leviticus 19:1-3.

Verse of the Day: “Each of you must show respect for your mother and father” (Leviticus 19:3).

Jason and Jarrod had just finished playing basketball with the youth group when Mom arrived to ask if they were ready to go home.

“Yeah, just a minute,” Jarrod answered.

The boys kept talking with their friends while Mom waited. Finally, she inter­rupted the conversation. “OK, boys, it’s time to leave.”

“Just a second!” Jason answered impatiently.

The boys’ mother propped her hands on her hips but said nothing. Just then, Pastor Ken, the boys’ youth pastor, approached the group. He nodded to Jason and Jarrod.

“You guys got a minute?” he asked. “I’d like to talk to you.”

Jason and Jarrod followed Pastor Ken across the room. Placing a hand on Jason’s shoulder and his other hand on Jarrod’s shoulder, he said, “Gentlemen, you see that woman over there?”

Jason and Jarrod looked back over their shoulders. The only woman in the room was their mom, who still stood by the door.

“That woman,” Pastor Ken said, “is your mother.”

“Yeah,” Jason responded in a puzzled tone.

Jarrod sighed and faced his brother. “He means that we should treat Mom better than we just did. I guess we were pretty disrespectful, weren’t we?” Jarrod asked Pastor Ken.

“A little,” Pastor Ken answered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“But she always expects us to leave when she’s ready,” Jarrod protested.

“She looks pretty patient to me,” Pastor Ken said. “Look, guys, God doesn’t say ‘Honor your father and mother… when it’s easy.’ If you’re trying to say disrespecting your mom is OK because of this, or that, well then . . .”

“Well then what?” Jason asked.

Jarrod rolled his eyes at his brother. “Well then, we’re trying to change what God has said is right, and that would be wrong.”

“Right,” Pastor Ken said.

Jarrod nodded to his brother. “We gotta get going,” he said. He looked at Pastor Ken. “Our mom’s waiting.” He smiled.

Pastor Ken smiled back as he watched the twins walk out the door with their mom.

TO DISCUSS: How do you know that respect for your parents is right? How can you show respect for your parents? Does a parent have to earn his or her child’s respect? Why or why not? Is a person allowed to stop respecting his or her parents when he or she becomes an adult? Why or why not?

TO PRAY: “Lord, help us to obey your command to honor our parents.”