Obedience

                                     When The Door Slams

Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and put them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well build. But the one hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who build a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.                                 Luke 6:46-49 NIV

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck (Proverbs 1:8-9).               

            Obedience: "Train children how to live right, and when they are old, they will not change" (Proverbs 22:6) is as true today as when Solomon wrote it several thousand years ago. Running one's eye down the columns of any concordance on the words obey, obedience, and obedient gives some idea of the importance of these words in God's sight. "It is better to obey than to sacrifice. It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of sheep," Samuel told Saul. In order to give respectful attention, which is the beginning of learning, you must be obedient.

            Think about this: Training must come before teaching. Before parents can train their children properly, they must first discipline themselves. An orderly home and orderly habits can be accomplished only by agreeing together on these things. This is impossible unless the children cooperate. And they don't cooperate unless they are disciplined from their earliest days. This discipline lays the groundwork for teaching. 

            Praying together for wisdom and standing together on all matters of discipline should be a rule for parents. Older children quickly notice when they can play one parent against the other: "If Mommy won't let me go, I'll ask Daddy. He won't know that Mommy has said no." Parents of young children (and older ones, too, of course) should read the book of Proverbs frequently and soak up the wisdom given by the Spirit of God.

            Listen: All knowledge comes from either observation of creation or revelation by the Creator. But observation will not answer questions about what the Creator is like, why He made creation, how He known, who we are, and what our purpose is; these questions can be answered only by revelation, which gives us God's big picture. We are thus called to listen to what He says, for that will give us the key to true knowledge and instruction.

            On the other hand, fools--not necessarily the unintelligent--are those who reject God's authority, despise His revelation, and refuse the discipline of His Knowledge (Proverbs 1:7).

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:20-23 NIV).   

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                        Never Rest Ministries