“Slowly!”
I cannot count the number of times I have to say that every day. Does the little boy hear? Yes. Does he heed? Nope. Unless ‘slowly’ means lightning speed.
“Slowly! Be careful!” I kept repeating that morning.
All of a sudden, there was a loud thud!
I turned the corner after him and found him on the ground. He stood up crying, and guess who he came running to for solace? Yep. The one who had warned him to be careful in the first place. (Smirk). Honestly, I was not too inclined to console him, and I didn’t.
Are we not a lot like that? God may patiently and consistently keep warning us about something. Do we hear? Hopefully. Do we heed? Sometimes we become stiff-necked. We like things our way.
Sound familiar? Like Israelitish?
Jeremiah 11:7-8 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.
Then, when we get in trouble, guess who we go running to? Yep, Jehovah. The same one who had cautioned us in the first place, but we did not listen.
Aren’t you glad that God is not like man? He is so gracious, patient, merciful, and compassionate. Even then, He is ready to embrace us with open arms.
Nehemiah 9:17b: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
Here’s the Declaration:
Very simply put, let us work on being obedient children.
Psalm 32:8-9 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Which do you prefer: to be gently guided by the Holy Spirit or to be forcefully steered (by life situations), as the horse or the mule?
Throw on God the responsibility of indicating your path. Don’t wait for the sharp jerk of bit or bridle; let love prompt and inspire your every movement. F. B. Meyer.
If we love Him, we will keep His commandments, and His commandments are not grievous or burdensome. It is possible to do this, though not in the energy of the flesh. Let us pause and ask Him for grace.
Gracious Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, grant me the grace for willing and prompt obedience to Your directives.