Eyes of a Child

Obedience or Ummmm… No

So recently Lindsey and I have noticed a major shift in Eli, he is learning independence.  He is finding a love for playing by himself and becoming very self sufficient.  That also means he is learning a parent’s worst nightmare, disobedience and his love to say no.  He has started comprehending when we are telling him to do something, and learned the difference in yes and no.   Whether it’s standing on the couch or climbing up on the end tables, he will just stare at us.  We can say, “Eli, get down,” he will look at us for a few moments thinking about it and then say, “ummm, no.”  He will then proceed to shake his head at us like it is a proud moment.  He doesn’t understand that we are trying to protect him and want the best for him. All Eli sees in that moment is I don’t want to listen.

(Here is one of those moments.)

Now hear these words of Jesus in thinking about that.  “If you love me, keep my commands”

I have been thinking about his simple statement of “umm no” a lot recently. Thinking, how many times do we say that to God?  He gives us a command, we think about, it a few moments, and then we shake our heads, “ummm no.” I don’t like that idea, so God, I am going to tell you no.  Maybe in not such bold terms as looking God square in the eye, saying no, but by doing our own thing.

We know what God is calling us to do or what His word is saying, instead in our minds we choose our own path.  What we are really saying is, God I know better than you in this matter and I’m going to make my own choice.

                  “God, I know your word says to forgive.  Ummmm, no you don’t know what that person did to me.  It’s only one grudge.”

                  “God, I know your word says to love the broken, but those people over there are just too different from me.”

                  “God, I know your word says… Ummmm No.”

Do you get my drift? We pick and choose what we want to follow.  We think that God is trying to steal our fun or put regulations on us by telling us to follow his commands.  As a dad, I have realized so much more! His commands are really there to protect us and lead us towards the blessed life He has for us.  He wants the best for us, however we just do not always see that.

We pick and choose what we like. I’ll follow this one, but that one is a little too much for me God.  We think His commands are stopping us, but what God is really doing is trying to put up road signs to protect us.  To save us from going off a cliff: Slow Down.  Sharp Curve Ahead.  Steep Cliff.

As a dad, if I watched Eli driving towards that cliff, I would do everything I could to stop him. I believe any loving parent would do the same thing. Now let’s go back to the idea of Eli climbing on the furniture.  Maybe he proceeds to fall, starts crying and then gets upset at Lindsey and I, like it is our fault.  We tried to protect him.  We tried to lead him and  get him down, but he kept choosing to do his own thing.  Then he blames us.

How often are we the same way? We pick and choose our own path, we drive off the cliff, and then we blame God.  “God, how could you let this happen?!”

I can only imagine God replying,” I tried to protect you. I gave you my word, my commands, but you didn’t want to listen.”

God is our heavenly father and his commands are for us.  They aren’t meant to stop us from living but meant to allow us to truly live the way God designed us to live.

Are you willing to say yes to God, be obedient, or are you like Eli and saying, “Ummmm, no?!”