As my birthday or Father’s Day approached,
my kids would always ask me, “What do you want?” I would always answer, “Your obedience.” To which they would reply, “That’s too
hard! Why don’t you ask for a tie, a tee
shirt, or something easier?”
I used to laugh or smile at their
response, until I realized that I had the same attitude I have towards authority. My spirit groaned every time I heard God say,
“Obey!” and my feelings did not reflect a good relationship between my Father
and me.
Yet, upon further reflection,
when I’ve told my kids to “obey me,” I didn’t picture myself as a king or a
dictator demanding that my subjects jump or bow before my every wish. When I told my kids that I wanted their
obedience, I was pleading with them to “Listen to me!” or “Trust me!” because I
was looking out for their welfare.
Today when God says, “Obey Me”
I’m trying to change my mental image of God from an unreasonable tyrant to a
Father who wants the very best for His kids.
But like my kids, I find it so
very hard. It’s so much easier to give a
portion of what I possess than to give Him my whole heart. . .
