Robert Morris - Happy Father's Day

Any relationship we have can be made stronger by practicing the principles of honoring and receiving the other person.

In celebration of Father’s Day, there are two principles that we can apply that will help our fathers be better fathers. These also work in any relationship— wives become better wives, bosses become better bosses, etc.

The principle of honoring comes from Mark 6:1–5. Even Jesus, the Son of God, was limited by dishonor. He couldn’t do many miracles in his home region because of dishonor from his family and neighbors. Dishonor stems from familiarity and offenses. Honor is a man’s greatest need, and when we honor someone, we help them reach their potential. When we honor our fathers, it also benefits us—we live better and longer lives (Ephesians 6:2–3).

We find the principle of receiving in Matthew 10:40–41. To receive someone means to relate to them with unconditional acceptance. When we receive a person as God’s perfect gift to us, we release them to be all God intended them to be in our life. This is true in our relationship with Jesus (John 1:12) and with the Holy Spirit. In our relationships with people—spouse, children, parents, friends, boss—this doesn’t mean they’re perfect, but that we accept them, as they are, as a gift from God.