Obedience

That's the theme.

It's the emphasis of my bible study this week.

We had some issues with E during the children's sermon this week at church. (that, and how we handled it was also emphasized at our bible study ;)

We have a 14 month old son who is now walking.

We have a Kindergartner who is WAY to wrapped up in all the boys at school.

And we have a 3 yr old who wants her way.

Obedience has been on my mind A LOT.

It's not something I have been mirroring for my children lately.

Here are some of the scriptures that have been playing on repeat in my head the last few days.

• 1Samuel 15:22 "...To obey is better than sacrifice...."
• John 14:23 "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching..."
• Jeremiah 7:23 "...Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you."

Obey: to do as asked; to yield to someones command or wishes. (according to my NIV concordance)

We yield to the wishes of our Maker because we believe He knows best. It is an act of self-discipline. We YIELD. We do it out of love. We love Him and trust Him. It is the same with our children. We must love them ENOUGH to expect obedience. It is the natural order set before us from the beginning of time. The Creator created man, Adam, and set down the rules. It was only ONE. He disobeyed. Because the Creator loved us all so much He already had a plan in action to redeem all of mankind from disobedience. Disobedience is SIN. James 4:17 "Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." It's that simple.

But it really isn't that simple, is it? You see, in my opinion, the hard part is the yielding part. That's the hard part for our children, too. To yield means to give up the possession of something; to give way to. We have to give up the possession of our will and give way to the will or commands of our Creator. It's not always an easy thing to do.

But if we love Him....

we will.