When Abraham Lincoln said “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” he wasn’t talking about the kind of political divisions common today.

Lincoln paraphrased the following passage from the Bible, Matthew 12:25, when he spoke of a house divided: Lincoln felt that the ideals of freedom for all and the institution of slavery could not coexist — morally, socially, or legally — under one nation.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved – I do not expect the house to fall – but I do expect it will cease to be divided.

“Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee” (Deuteronomy 5:16a). Disrespectful actions of children, no matter their age, are abhorred by God, and there’s no place that’s worse to see the disrespectful actions of children than in a homeschooling family.

If You Mess with God’s Children, You Are Going to Have to Deal with Their Father. God will execute His vengeance upon all those who harm His people. The wicked may think they are succeeding, but like fish that have already taken the bait and running with it, they are already doomed. It is just a matter of time.

Here are 5 rules that will help you handle disrespect:

1. Don’t Take It Personally. I know this is a hard one, but try not to take what your child is saying or doing personally.
2. Be Prepared.
3. Avoid Power Struggles at All Costs.
4. Be Determined.
5. Be a Teacher and Coach.

“I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices.” Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will remove you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have uttered rebellion against the Lord.”

Lord Jesus Christ, I pray for this reminder of who my teen is in my life. I ask for a renewed mind even in the wake of betrayal, hurt, or whatever else may seek to take my eyes off You. Remind me of this verse and the gift of their life You have given me when I am tempted to think otherwise.

Proverbs 14:34 states that “Righteousness exalts a nation.” Well, righteousness comes from national politics that are enacted. And as Proverbs 29:2 states, “When the righteous rule, the people rejoice… when the wicked rule, the people groan.”

The first records of the word rebellion come from the 1300s. It is derived from the Latin bell(um), which means “war” and is also the root of war-related words like antebellum, belligerent, and bellicose. When multiple people participate in this kind of act, it is called a rebellion.

Stripped down to its bare essence, sin is rebellion against God. It means that we shake our fist in anger at Him for telling us how to live and what to believe, and we conspire to take over His rightful place to rule our lives.