Occasionally my 15 year old son surprises me with his wisdom!!! My wife was recently telling him about the parents of a friend of his who had told their son to wear a coat to school as it was raining (a sensible precaution I hear all you parents cry!). The friend was not keen however (coats are so not cool apparently), and refused. Rather than let the lad learn from experience (part of growing up and, after all, this was not a life-threatening behaviour choice!) the parents felt the battle was worth it, and so told the lad if he didn't wear his coat the internet would be switched off all evening (a fate worse than death apparently for most modern teenagers!)
Unsurprisingly, the lad complied and wore his coat.
Now, my son astutely observed that although the parents had achieved obedience, the lad's heart motives for obeying were simply the fear of punishment. He had not seen that it was a good idea for his own health or comfort to wear a coat, and neither did he do it because he wanted to bless and honour his Mum and Dad. It was simply the fear of punishment that made him comply.
Now I began to wonder, how many Christians or believers of other faiths do things, or deny themselves things for this one motive - fear of punishment? Is this really the motive our loving heavenly Father wants us to base our decisions on? Does he want children whose hearts are simply set on loving Him, doing things to bless him, and the world around them, and avoiding behaviours because they see how harmful they can be to themselves and others. Or does He want children who obey grudgingly, who give themselves and their resources to the things of the kingdom because they are afraid if they don't they will be punished?
I mean, honestly take a look at your own heart - why do you go to church? Why do you give money? Why do you worship? Why do you try to 'keep the rules' and 'behave yourself' in a manner that you think God wants? Is there even a small part of you that does these things because you fear punishment, or that your loving heavenly Father will take things away from you, or make life hard for you if you don't?
I am in no way suggesting that we just do what we like, embrace poor lifestyle choices, and stop doing the things that Father has given us for our blessing and encouragement. I am simply encouraging us all to question our motives and return to lives lived simply because of, and through divine love. Jesus did not do the things he did and suffer the agony of the cross because he feared His Father's wrath if he didn't. He was perfected in love so had no unhealthy fear. Whatever he did it was because he loved His Father and wanted to be a blessing to him. Let our motives for all that we do, and don't do become more like Jesus.
Father fill us again with your love, and keep filling us until our hearts want what you want and we walk constantly and uprightly in your love.
Unsurprisingly, the lad complied and wore his coat.
Now, my son astutely observed that although the parents had achieved obedience, the lad's heart motives for obeying were simply the fear of punishment. He had not seen that it was a good idea for his own health or comfort to wear a coat, and neither did he do it because he wanted to bless and honour his Mum and Dad. It was simply the fear of punishment that made him comply.
Now I began to wonder, how many Christians or believers of other faiths do things, or deny themselves things for this one motive - fear of punishment? Is this really the motive our loving heavenly Father wants us to base our decisions on? Does he want children whose hearts are simply set on loving Him, doing things to bless him, and the world around them, and avoiding behaviours because they see how harmful they can be to themselves and others. Or does He want children who obey grudgingly, who give themselves and their resources to the things of the kingdom because they are afraid if they don't they will be punished?
I mean, honestly take a look at your own heart - why do you go to church? Why do you give money? Why do you worship? Why do you try to 'keep the rules' and 'behave yourself' in a manner that you think God wants? Is there even a small part of you that does these things because you fear punishment, or that your loving heavenly Father will take things away from you, or make life hard for you if you don't?
I am in no way suggesting that we just do what we like, embrace poor lifestyle choices, and stop doing the things that Father has given us for our blessing and encouragement. I am simply encouraging us all to question our motives and return to lives lived simply because of, and through divine love. Jesus did not do the things he did and suffer the agony of the cross because he feared His Father's wrath if he didn't. He was perfected in love so had no unhealthy fear. Whatever he did it was because he loved His Father and wanted to be a blessing to him. Let our motives for all that we do, and don't do become more like Jesus.
Father fill us again with your love, and keep filling us until our hearts want what you want and we walk constantly and uprightly in your love.