I spent my past 2 months babysitting my 4 and a half yrs old nephew. He is a smart, sweet, funny, and cute kid. But sometimes we (his parents and I) were made upset because of his rebellious attitude. Well, you know...he's just a kid. Whenever we told him not to, he always does the opposite. When he wants something, he just couldn't understand the meaning of "wait!". He wouldn't take "no" for an answer, and everything has to be fulfilled "now!" as he wishes. And of course, if we don't fulfill what he asks, he will cry, whine, scream, and probably throw his toys on us. When we explain the reason why we forbid him to do this and that, why we can't give him what he wants at the moment, and that it's all for his own sake, etc...., he just don't want to know.Well...., he's just a kid. However, we still love him no matter how he is. But of course it saddened us when he become a disobedient kid.
Then I ponder, and think about it. Isn't obedience delight our parents? They love us unconditionally, but our disobedience upset them. The same thing applies to our relationship with Father in heaven. He delights in our obedience. He desires our obedience more than our sacrifices or offerings.
(1Sa 15:22) And Samuel said, Does Jehovah delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice! To listen is better than the fat of rams!
After all, it's all for our own sakes.
Obedience keeps us under the protective power of God, while disobedience opens the door for the evil power to come into our lives. Israel was under the protective power of God, therefore no curse could fall unto them. Balaam was asked to curse Israel, but He blessed them instead (Numbers 23), because he cannot curse those who are blessed by God. But..........., when Israel lived in disobedience (Number 25), started compromising their lives with ungodly stuffs, they put themselves under a witchcraft curse.
Jesus gave us the perfect example of obedience. He did what The Father told Him to do, even to die on the cross. Therefore Father said about Him, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Mat 3:17). Because of His obedience, we are now redeemed to the Father, we are saved and adopted as God's children.
So, which one are we? an obedient or disobedient son/daughter of God? Let us not live a childish christian life. Yes, we should have a child-like faith, but we shouldn't live a childish christian life. A childish christian can only complain, whine, and cry when everything does not work out as his/her wish. A childish christian being ignorant when Father said, "wait!". Complaining is rebellion, and rebellion = disobedience. Let's choose wisely every decision we make in our lives, and make sure we walk in obedience. God bless you
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