*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_
 
Sunday 11th January 2026

A PERSON WHO HONOURS

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6

Honour your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." *Ephesians 6:2-3
 
God gives us parents not just to birth us biologically but also to birth His godly character in us. Not all parents can produce a godly character in us.
 
Sometimes the people who physically give birth to us are not the same people who help us to develop our spiritual or professional life. As such, the descriptions ‘father and mother’ are not just limited to our natural parents; they also extend to our spiritual, social and professional mentors who have invested value in our lives.
 
When people have made valuable investments in us, it is only reasonable that we find appropriate ways to honour them and show our appreciation to them.
 
God is very committed to this process of showing gratitude and gives us two promises if we honour our ‘father and mother’:

It will be well with you.

This is a promise to make our lives turn out well. It means that God will cause all things to work out for our good and will grant us a fruitful life.

You will live long.

This is a promise to make us live our lives to the full and enjoy the fullness of life. It is not just about living long but living well and fully.
 
The opposite of that promise is that when we fail to honour our ‘father and mother’, we deny ourselves the fullness of God’s abundant life here on the earth. Why don’t you take advantage of this promise by reaching out to your ‘father and mother’ to honour them?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you are the Source of my life. Bless and prosper those you have invested in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.