THE SEED
“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” — Exodus 20:12 (KJV)
God’s command to honour our parents is not based on their perfection but on His divine order. This instruction stands, regardless of their flaws or failings, as a pathway to blessing and long life. Our parents are the vessels through whom God brought us into the world, and with every vessel comes both strengths and imperfections. Consider the example of Noah, a righteous man who walked with God, yet in a moment of weakness, he became drunk and lay exposed in his tent. His son Ham responded with
dishonour, exposing his father’s shame, while Shem and Japheth chose a path of respect, covering their father without looking upon his vulnerability. God took note of their responses, blessing those who honoured and the one who dishonoured faced the consequence. Honouring our parents is not about ignoring their faults but about choosing to respond with grace, respect, and prayer, even when their humanity is evident. It means choosing to protect rather than expose, to pray rather than judge. This act of honour is a seed that, when faithfully sown, brings a harvest of longevity, favour, and peace. Do I honour my parents in word, thought, and action even when I see their weaknesses? Have I covered them in prayer, or have I been quick to expose their flaws? Let’s be guided by our consciences; there is still room for change.
BIBLE READING: Genesis 9:18-27
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to honour my parents with grace and wisdom. May I cover them in prayer and reflect Your heart in my family relationships. Let me never take lightly the authority You have placed in my life in Jesus name, Amen.
BÍBU ỌLÁ FÚN OHÙN ELO ALÁÌPÉ IRUGBIN NAA
Bọ̀wọ̀ fún bàbá òun ìyá rẹ̀: ki ọjọ́ rẹ kí o lé pẹ lórí ilẹ̀ tí Olúwa Ọlọ́run rẹ fi fún ọ. — Ẹ́kísódù 20:12
Aṣẹ Ọlọrun ní lati bu ọla fun awọn obi wa, eyi ko dá lori pé wọ́n jẹ́ pípé, ṣugbọn lori ilana Rẹ̀ atọrunwa . Ilana yi duro, laibikita nipa awọn àiṣedede tabi awọn ìṣubú wọ́n; bi ipa ọna si ibukun ati ẹ̀mí gigun.
Awọn obi wa jẹ́ ohun-elo nipasẹ ẹniti Ọlọrun fi mu wa wá si aiye, ati pẹlu nínú gbogbo ohun-elo wonyi, ni agbara ati aipe tí wá. Ẹ jẹ́kí a gbé àpẹrẹ Nóà yẹwo, olootọ ọkùnrin tí ó bá Ọlọ́run rìn, síbẹ̀ ní àkókò ijajafara rẹ, o mú ọtí wáìnì ní àmupara, o si tu ara rẹ̀ si ìhòòhò nínú àgọ́. Hámù ọmọ rẹ̀ ọkùnrin si dáhùn pẹ̀lú Ọ̀rọ̀ àfojúdi nípa ìtìjú bàbá rẹ̀: nigbati Ṣémù ati Jáfẹ́tì yan ìtẹríba, wọ́n si bo ìhòòhò bàbá wọ́n; Ọlọ́run ṣàkíyèsí àwọn ìṣe si wọn, ó bùkún fun àwọn tí wọ́n ń buọlá, àwọn tí wọ́n tàbùkù si gbà èrè idibajẹ. Bibọwọ fun awọn obi wa kii ṣe nipa aibikita awọn aṣiṣe wọn ṣugbọn nipa yiyan lati dahun pẹlu oore-ọfẹ, itẹriba, ati adura, paapaa nigba ti ẹda eniyan fara han. O tumọ si yiyan lati daabobo dipo ifihan, lati gbadura dipo didajọ. Iṣe bibu ọlá fun yìí, jẹ́ irúgbìn, nígbà tí a bá fi òtítọ́ gbìn, yió mú ìkórè ẹ̀mí gígùn , ojúrere, àti àlàáfíà wá. Ṣé mo máa ń bọlá fún àwọn òbí mi nínú ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnu, èrò, àti ìṣe, yálà nígbà tí mo bá rí àwọn àṣìṣe wọn? Ǹjẹ́ mo máa ń gbà àdúrà fun wọ́n, àbí mo máa ń tètè tú àṣìṣe wọn sita? Ẹ jẹ́ kí ẹ̀rí ọkàn wa máa darí wa; àyè si wa fun Iyipada.
BIBELI KIKA: Jẹ́nẹ́sísì 9:18-27
ADURA: Olúwa kọ mí làti bọ̀wọ̀ fún àwọn òbí mí pẹ̀lú oore-ọfẹ àti ọgbọ̀n. Mu mí fi Àdúrà ràn wọ́n lọ́wọ́ ati kí n fi ọkàn Rẹ hàn nínú ìbáṣèpọ láàrin ẹbí mi. Máṣe jẹ́ kí n fi ọwọ́ yẹpẹrẹ mú aṣẹ ti O fí sínú ayé mi Amin.