More often than not I think that God uses our children to teach us lessons. For instance, I think about this scenario - a child comes home from school, changes clothes, throws dirty clothes on the floor, goes in the kitchen, gets a snack, leaves a mess, skips homework and goes outside to play....
Naturally, we would bring the child in and chastise them on their behavior and let them know that it is unacceptable and there is a better way... Obedience!
The child apologizes and says I'm sorry for leaving my clothes on the floor, I'm sorry for leaving a mess in the kitchen, and I'm sorry for not doing my homework before going out to play.
What do we say?
Your sorry doesn't hold weight if you continue to do it again and again... a repentant heart invokes change... Follow my instructions my son or daughter and I will give you a rest from chastisement...
Likewise it is with our Heavenly Father with us, His children...
We say we don't have time to pray for others, but we pick up the phone and gossip about others for an hour, We don't have time to read the bible, but we make time to go thru emails, texts, and FB posts... We don't feel like going to church on Sunday, but we'll jump at the opportunity to go out with the fellows or clubbin with the girls.
Then God calls us into His presence, either by church / alter call, church TV broadcast, or church radio show, (whatever the means) and we receive chastisement on our behavior, and we are told that it is unacceptable and there is a better way... Obedience!
We say I'm sorry Lord for not making time for You in our lives, not following your instructions, and being disobedient to your Word! But does our sorry hold weight if we continue to live the same way and do the same things? A truly repentant heart invokes CHANGE!
I think about how I feel when my child says sorry and does the same thing again & again. Then, I think, WOW! That's how I make God feel when I apologize for my wrongs and turn around and do them again...
My words mean nothing without the actions to back them up!
God says to us - Follow my instructions my son or daughter and I will give you rest...
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
(Message Version)
28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment