Daily Devotional

WALKING IN TRUE SUBMISSION AND HUMILITY

February 20

hild of God, do you know that you are to respect always your elders and especially those who are in the Lord. You are to treat those older men and women as mothers and fathers in the Lord. Honor and respect is a spiritual grace which needs to be exercised in your life to strengthen you in the Holy Spirit. When you honor someone, you take your eyes off yourself in that moment and think and pray about the needs of another. This is very Christ-like in your actions. You please your Father in Heaven, and are much like the Lord Jesus who said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38) In submission and humility toward other people, you cover the ground that the Lord Jesus covered by becoming a servant to all people. With those that are older than you I have reserved wisdom, knowledge, experience and understanding which I will release to you in the act of your showing respect. Suppose you have elderly parents or grandparents, how do you view them? Do you neglect them and see it as a bother to spend time with them or honor them? This is a great sin of neglect for you and you will pay dearly by being cut off from many blessings that dwell in these precious souls. The older people are not to be pitied, but loved, honored and respected. They are reserved by your Father to enrich the lives of those who discover their treasures. What about visiting and praying for them? This is good in the sight of your Heavenly Father. As you reach out to your elders, your Father is well pleased with that. Try it, see if the Lord won't open heaven to you and pour out a blessing! He will! Someday you may live to be an elderly person. If you show respect and honor now to them you will later reap what you sow. This is a blessing waiting for you. If you have been neglectful or even disrespectful to the elderly, you need to seriously confess this sin and repent so that your Father can heal this sad weakness in your life.

Prayer

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Father, in the name of Jesus, you said "Honor your father and mother that your days may be long on the earth that the Lord your God gives to you." (Ephesians 6:3 NKJ V) I want to live long and healthy. Give me grace and mercy and I will include my elders in my life. I will love them, visit them, pray for them and seek their wise counsel for me and my loved ones, in Jesus’ name, amen!