Parents have a responsibility to
teach their children right from wrong.
They tell their children what they should do.
For instance, they will tell them to eat everything on their
plate.
They also tell their children what they should not do.
For example, they will tell them not to touch the stove or
play with matches.
Children will usually ask, “Why?”
Early on, parents will explain their reasoning.
In the case of plate cleaning they will tell their children
about those less fortunate that have no food to waste.
In the case of stoves or matches they will tell their children
about the dangers of fire.
As children get older they learn which behaviors are
acceptable and which are not.
This knowledge does not always guarantee that children will
behave according to the parents’ instruction.
Children, especially the stubborn ones, still tend to ask,
“Why?”
Eventually the patience of the parents runs out.
At this point, the response from the parents usually becomes,
“Because I said so! That’s why!”
Truth be told, adults can be every bit as stubborn as
children at times.
Scripture is pretty clear on what is acceptable.
It is also pretty clear on what is unacceptable.
As adults, we usually know the difference between right and
wrong.
Sometimes, we yield to temptation and do what is wrong
anyway.
When we do, our first response is to try to justify that disobedience
in ourselves.
We tell ourselves that under normal circumstances we would
have obeyed.
We then tell ourselves that this time there were special
circumstances.
Eventually we are able to convince ourselves that this
disobedience was justified.
Ironically, we find it all too easy to condemn the same disobedience
in others.
Whether it is God speaking in the Old Testament, or Jesus
speaking in the New Testament we have been told what is expected of us.
We even struggle with something as simple as loving our
neighbor.
We try to add our own conditions to this command and the
others.
When we examine our motivation for disobedience we find we are
just like stubborn children continually asking, “Why?”
I wonder just how we would feel if we actually heard God or
Jesus say to us, “Because I said so! That’s why!”
Romans 12:2 (NET) - Do not be conformed to this present world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what
is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on
Friday, July 22, 2016.
I’ll be back here on Friday, August 5, 2016
