Between the years of 2002 and 2005, ABC aired the sitcom, "8 Simples Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter." The show starred the late John Ritter as a husband and father of three teen and pre-teen children.
I must admit, I never once watched this show. Based on the show's title, I suppose the basic premise of this series was life for teenage girls with a protective father. (By the way dads, that's a good thing...pay no attention to what the entertainment industry does in trying to make light of fathers who care.)
The first section of Paul's letter to the church of Christ in Ephesus contains what we might call, "12 Simple Rules For The Father's House." Verses one through twenty-one of Ephesians chapter five tell us how to live in our Father's house (i.e. the church, cf. 1 Timothy 3:15) as obedient children:
- Follow Christ in love (v. 1-2)
- Avoid all immorality (v. 3)
- Refrain from obscene language (v. 4-5)
- Do not allow others to deceive you (v. 6-7)
- Walk in the light (v. 8-9, 11-14)
- Seek God's will and do it (v. 10, 17)
- Use every opportunity for doing good (v. 15-16)
- Do not get drunk on wine (v. 18a)
- Be filled with the Spirit (v. 18b)
- Sing to encourage one another and to worship God (v. 19)
- Be thankful for all things (v. 20)
- Submit to one another (v. 21)
God is the Head of his own household; what he says goes. It behooves you and me by reason of both fear and love to submit ourselves to his guidance all the days of our lives.
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