Don't Make God Decide ....

Have you ever been around parents who are discipling a toddler in the terrible two's? If you are around them long enough you may hear them say something to this effect, "Johnny, I told you to quit doing that! Now if I have to come over there and make you stop it is going to be a lot worse for you!" I have learned that adults treat God a lot like two year olds treat their parents.

I often see Christ followers who understand that God is telling them not to do something or to start doing something they're not. Instead of just obeying God when they understand that He is directing them they will often say things like, "Well I'm just going to keep doing so and so and if God doesn't want me to do it then He'll put an end to it!"

This kind of attitude is dangerous! The toddler who has to have mommy or daddy step in and stop them even after they have been told and warned ends up getting harsher punishment. The Christ follower should expect no different from God; who is a much better Father than any of us.

Delayed obedience is disobedience, partial obedience is disobedience, and acting like you didn't hear God when He knows you did is disobedience! I can tell you from personal experience that waiting to let God come and take care of a matter when He has clearly given you instruction to obey is something you will regret.

When I first repented and began to follow Jesus with all my heart at age 18 I began a dating relationship with a Christian young lady shortly thereafter. The dating relationship went fine through the summer and then we both went to separate schools. One evening as I was driving to meet her at school God clearly communicated to me that He did not intend this relationship to go on any longer and that I should end it. I prayed and begged God not to end it because I loved this girl. Finally, when God wouldn't leave me alone about it I finally told Him that He would have to end it because I couldn't. God left me alone about it for a long time after that. God continued to work in my life and I grew as a Christ follower. The matter never really came up again. Three and a half years later when I was saving for a ring to ask this girl to marry me God intervened as I had asked Him to do all those years before. The girl broke up with me. She said that God told her to do it. I had forgotten about the conversation with God all the years before. He brought it back to my memory quite clearly in the days following the break up.

When God tells us do do or not to do something it is as the most pure lover of our souls we have ever had. We may not understand it and it may be difficult, but we will always be glad we obeyed God. Likewise we will always be heartbroken that we disobeyed Him. Obey God quickly, humbly, and completely when He directs you. You will never regret that you did in the long term.

In Jesus Name

Jarrett Jamieson

www.journeybaptistchurch.com