Sunday, June 16, 2013

By: Gwen Hitt

More than a Suggestion

Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

I was amazed to discover that Father's Day is not just an American holiday. The modern version of this special celebration originated in the United States of America but soon spread around the world. Most scholars agree that credit for this holiday goes to Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, a loving daughter from Spokane, Washington. Supposedly, the idea of a Father's Day celebration originated in Sonora's mind after listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. She thought that this type of honor should be extended to fathers as well.

Although Ms. Dodd does get credit for this holiday, some scholars have proposed that the origin of Father's Day can be traced to the ruins of Babylon where a carving of a Father's Day message made by a young boy named Elmesu was discovered. On this card made out of clay over 4,000 years ago, Elmesu wished his Babylonian father good health and a long life.

On this special day, I would like to further propose that the two theories described above are actually NOT the true origins of the celebration of Father's Day. I believe that the evidence for the true origin of this holiday can be found in the Word of God.

In today's scripture, which is actually the fifth commandment, God does not make a suggestion BUT makes a MANDATE that we should honor our fathers and mothers. Interestingly, the fifth commandment is the first commandment with a PROMISE. A long life is promised to those who have the proper respect for their parents. Honoring your parents in effect honors God because as Creator, He created you through your parents.

My challenge to you today is to show honor to your earthly father if he is still with you. If the God of the Universe placed so much importance on this mandate, I would encourage you to heed His directive.

If your earthly father is no longer with you, Matthew 25:40 provides a course of action for what you could do today to honor the King of Kings, our God: "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me!'" Take a little time to honor SOMEONE today.... By doing so, you are honoring your God.

Dear Lord, I pray that You would bless all the fathers. Help them to be loving fathers just as You are. Thank YOU Father God for Your unconditional love.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.