A Broken Camera

Parenting a 12 year old is an adventure. He thinks he knows better than I about just about everything. Ed recently received a camera for his birthday. I put the wrist strap on it with an explanation that if it slipped out of his hands, the strap was there to keep it from falling. Almost immediately, he went to his room and took the strap off of the camera. You can guess what happened the next day. As he ran down the steps the camera flew out of his hands. Now he owns a non-functional camera.

Are you obedient to your Father or are you a willful child, full of your own ‘wisdom?’ Jesus says, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock." (Matthew 7:24, NLT)  He really does know best!  When our will collides with His instruction, there is the temptation to discard what He says as belonging to another age or as impractical in our time.  His wisdom is timeless and flows from the mind of God. Submitting ourselves to Him can be a difficult and costly thing. But, like our Ed found out when he choose to ignore my instruction, when we ignore Him we are short-sighted and do so only to find that we have caused ourselves great pain!

At one point in His ministry, Jesus told the crowds that they had to ‘eat his flesh and drink his blood.’  He compared himself to the manna that God had provided to the Israelites during their wilderness wandering. He said that He was as important as food and water, that the only way to find the favor of God was to consume His wisdom. Many found this too much and left Him! I love Peter’s profession of faith that day. When asked if he too would leave, "Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life." (John 6:68, NLT)

Where are you finding Jesus’ words hard to obey?
Are you struggling with forgiveness?
Are you avoiding loving someone in your family that you find irritating?

Are you protecting yourself from humble, selfless service?

Are you resisting investing your time and treasure in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Here’s a word from the Word. May it be our prayer, one that embraces the wisdom of God. Read it prayerfully, asking the Spirit of God to help you see past this moment to the reward that comes to those who maturely say, “I will obey your Word!”

"Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.

Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you.

Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good."
(Psalm 119:33-39, NLT)

___________________

I'll say,"Yes, Lord, yes,"

To Your will and to Your way.

I'll say,"Yes, Lord, yes."

I will trust You and obey.

When the Spirit speaks to me,

With my whole heart I'll agree.

And my answer will be,

"Yes, Lord, yes."

Yes Lord Yes

Keesecker, Lynn

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