Our Disobedience

"I have spoken to you again and again and yet you have not listened to me." - Jeremiah 35:14

When you were a kid, how did your patents get your attention? How did they get you to do something you really didn't want to do?

Mine threatened to take away things. No tv, no allowance, no dessert. Want to borrow the car? Nope. Not until you've done your chores. Not until you've done your homework.

Do you think God is any different than our moms and dads? Well, of course He is! But the way He teaches us and incentivizes our behavior is very similar to that of our parents.

For the most parent parents teach us because they want us to be safe or to succeed in life. They teach us, and punish us, for our own benefit. God is no different in His teaching. However His punishments carry heavier weights. Like death, for example.

God commands us to do things. He wants us to be holy, but we all fall short. We fail to obey. So God is forced to discipline us, again and again. Because we fail Him again and again.

However, God provides us with the means to escape His just punishments. His Son, Jesus. Jesus took our punishment upon Himself. That sounds great for us, until we actually think a bout what Jesus did. He died a horrible, painful death just so we didn't have to die.

Yet still many people don't appreciate what Jesus did. They don't believe in Him. They don't accept God's gift of salvation. Here's a short list of words to describe those people.

Foolish, Deceived, and dead.

Please, don't be among those who rebel against God. It is OUR disobedience that brings punishment. WE have the choice. We must consider God and His commands carefully. God's justness demands punishment for sin. Jesus took that punishment for us. Don't let that incredible gift go unopened.

The Price of Disobedience

Did you ever hear these words when you were growing up? "Wait until your father gets home!" If you did, you were loved.

Discipline is an essential part of learning what's right and what's wrong. That's the way we humans learn. Why? Because we can't seem to learn any other way.

Lots of animal trainers reward their animals with treats whenever they do something right. When the animal does something wrong they are punished. If there is no punishment, why change the behavior?

God punishes us when we sin. Why? So we learn NOT to sin.

"My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." - Proverbs 3:11-12

Do you think that God is punishing us today because we have been disobedient? Well, that's actually not the right question to ask. I should have asked my question like this: How can you think that God is NOT disciplining us for our disobedience?

Watch the news. Our punishment can be seen everywhere. Many of our cities are still smoldering from the riots. God's people are living in fear from things they cannot even see. We wear masks, we shame those who don't, we disrespect our police and we cave in to every faction and squeaky wheel that raises its voice.

Our churches should be yelling, "Wait until your Father gets home!" but many have caved in and no longer speak words of truth. Instead they try to please humans rather than God. God will not be mocked!

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." - Galatians 6:7-10

I saw where my former church, the ELCA, is now praying to Mother God. Nowhere in the Bible is God ever referred to as a woman. It is always God, The Father. God will not be mocked! Therefore God will punish the disobedient. Let me refer you again to the news.

In 2009 the ELCA voted 559-451 to allow and encourage gay pastors. They currently have a gay bishop. This is contrary to God's Word! The vote tool place in Minneapolis. And last month Minneapolis was the first city to burn.

What is needed today is repentance, not accommodation. Humility, not pride. Teaching God's Word, not capitulation to society's demands.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." - Proverbs 14:12

There are so many blessings to be had though our obedience to God. Why would we EVER do otherwise? Why? Because we are sinners and we can't seem to help ourselves.

Here's a powerful video about the importance of fathers in our lives.

Just Like You - Lecrae

Training

Having spent a lot of time with youth over the past few years I have developed quite a few wonderful relationships. It is enjoyable to me to see these teens mature into young adults, especially if they are growing in the ways of the Lord. But many are those who fall off the radar, who drift into nothingness and they are slowly, and fatally, absorbed into the world.

As high school graduation looms large in our community, a month or so away, I find myself thinking of those young lives about ready to enter the world. But are they ready? Are they truly prepared for what awaits them? The answer, at least in MY mind is "uncertain" . . . leaning towards "probably not".

Several of my young friends from the youth groups I have been a part of have chosen the military for their post-high school careers. They have gone off to boot camp already. It's fun to see their pictures on Facebook, selfies in their military garb, their bodies changing shape right before our eyes as they train and exercise, preparing for whatever might come their way.

Think about that for a moment. The first thing a new recruit does when he joins the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines is . . . train. They get ready. Ready for what? They get prepared, both physically and mentally, for battle. Battle in an ever-changing and uncertain world.

According to The Barna Group, most of today's young Christians will leave their faith upon exiting high school. (see Barna Survey). Why? Well, in my opinion, and in the opinion of J. Warner Wallace (more on him in a moment), it is because the church is not TRAINING their youth for when they hit the real world. What's that verse?

"6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6

The Bible says TRAIN! We are to train our children, not entertain them, not goof around with them, not even TEACH them. Although teaching is very important it is not the same as training.

If you were going in for open-heart surgery would you want a doctor who has been trained in the operation he was about to perform, or would you rather have someone who has only read a book about it. It's no different with our faith. Our teens go off to school, untrained in the ways of the Lord, and the first atheist professor they encounter removes what little faith that student ever had.

So who's at fault? Youth pastors? Nope. WE are. The parents. We turn our children over to youth pastors thinking they will do the job and we no longer have to. Really? They see our kids one, maybe two hours a week. Can't get much training done in that short amount of time.

Training involves lots of time. It involves sacrifice. It involves selfless individuals willing to learn and be taught. For the soldiers on this page, and also for us, without that desire to give up one's self in an effort to be made stronger, there is little hope of surviving in battle.

Now, about J. Warner Wallace. I was listening to a Christian radio talk show the other day and this guy was on. He was talking about training our kids rather than simply teaching them. [His words inspired me to write this story] He turned TRAIN into an acronym which stood for Testing, Requiring, Arming, Involving, Nurturing.

We must test our children to find out what they do and do not know. We should require them to read, memorize scripture, and serve others in the community. We need to arm our kids so when they venture out they are prepared - arm them with the truth of God's Word and the ability to deliver the Gospel. Get them involved with opportunities, not only to serve but opportunities to share the Gospel and defend their faith. And we must nurture our children. When they experience a battle and get wounded we must love them and allow God to heal them through us.

The enemy we face "prowls around like a roaring lion," searching the herd for the weakest target he can find. Then, in a moment they are not expecting, he attacks and kills his prey. We must not be weak when the attack comes. We must be strong. We must . . . train.

"6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 5:6-11

People Get Ready by Jim Cole