Erick Totañes

God and Family, Honoring our Parents

I. The Heart of the Father: Why We Were Created
The foundation of our existence is rooted in God’s nature. God is love, and because of this, He created us because He desires to share His love with others. We were not created to be servants in a distant kingdom, but to be part of His spiritual family.
1 John 4:8, ”The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
God’s plan was never an afterthought. He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ according to His pleasure and will. Even when sin entered the world and separated us from Him, His nature as an eternally loving Father moved Him to provide a way back.

II. The Covenant of Honor: Parents and God
A family is held together by honor. Honoring our parents—both physical and spiritual—is a direct command from our Heavenly Father.
Honoring Parents: We are commanded to honor our father and mother, which is the first commandment that comes with a promise: that it may go well with us and we may live long on the earth. (Ephesians 6:1-4)
Instructions for the Home: Children are called to obey their parents in the Lord, while fathers are cautioned not to provoke their children to anger but to raise them in the instruction of the Lord.
How We Honor: Practically, we honor our parents and elders by:
Serving them.
Being present with them.
Going the extra mile for them.

III. The Path to Restoration: Jesus, the Humble High Priest
To bring us back into His family, God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sin. For this plan to work, Jesus had to become fully human in every way so that He could serve as a merciful and faithful high priest, making atonement for our sins.
Philippians 2:7, He emptied Himself (laying down His priviliges, not being entitled) and took the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men.
Jesus did not come in earthly glory;
Romans 5:8, While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This is the "greatest gift" anyone can receive: the free gift of salvation and eternal life through faith in Him.
The Greatest Act of God’s Love:

IV. The Greatest Act: Service as Honor
Honoring God is closely tied to how we treat others. We honor God through obedience and service. The ultimate act of service is sacrificially sharing the Gospel—the message of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Serving the Needy: Jesus teaches that when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and visit the sick or imprisoned, we are actually serving Him.
Welcoming the Lost: When we welcome others, we welcome Christ Himself.
The Ultimate Mission: Honoring our Heavenly Father comes with a command to serve and share the Gospel. Because God so loved the world that He gave His Son, we are called to give ourselves in service to share that same love with those who are lost.

Matthew 25:34-36, “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

God bless you.