“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it might be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3).

Recently my very dear friend and colleague, Chip Wood, shared with me an interesting story from his childhood. Chip is the director of the Baptist Church Planters’ Youth Ministry. By the way, before I share his story with you, please allow me the privilege of sharing that Chip and Karen and their family serve the Lord in an incredible ministry to not only children but local churches and families as well. Check out his web site at http://bcpyouthministry.com. If you have not invited Chip to your church, you better hurry! He is a highly sought after speaker. Back to the story! Growing up on a farm, Chip learned an incredible lesson about obedience and how to call out for help before it is too late. His dad told his young son Chip, “Do not play in the barn on the bales of hay.” But the day came when Chip scaled the thirty foot high stack of baled hay with an ingenious idea. After getting to the top, he would hang on to the rope, creep across the beams, secure the rope and swing like Tarzan down onto the lower stack of the bales across the barn. The crisis struck when he was halfway across the barn, thirty feet in the air and he dropped the rope! Tomorrow I’ll share with you what happened with Chip! Do you know of any parents who are getting discouraged raising their child? Read the verses again. God’s Word is still true. Be the parent. Your child’s obedience is not optional.

For today: How many predicaments could I avoid if only I would obey the Lord and His Word?