All Good Parents
Make the Right Turn
All good parents want to guide their children in a manner that will help them lead a life filled with joy and peace and respect for one another. However, every family goes through periods when their children become disobedient and somewhat stubborn.
For instance, A caring parent will first teach their children the proper and correct way to grow and learn new and different things. As a mother reminds her toddler not to touch a hot stove for his protection; the same is true of God when he reminds His people not to behave in certain manners for their protection.
Protection and Safety
At this moment, I am spending time with God by reading His Word in the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah. Throughout these two books, we read about disobedience and redemption. I am also reminded of how God shows his love as a caring Father who wants to protect and nurture His children.
That is why The Jewish people needed the Ten Commandments to give them a moral foundation of Godly teaching. If you really look at the ten commandments, you will see that obedience to them only helps protect and create safety for His children.
I’ll just pick two of them at this time. One that most people don’t understand states, “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.”
Numerous studies have shown that mankind needs to rest. Without rest, the mind as well as the body simply can’t function as well. Therefore what seems to be an obsolete commandment has actually been proven to be a benefit to people.
Rest and peace are also achieved while worshiping and praising our Heavenly Father. Through keeping this day, Holy for God, we can renewing our faith and spirit as well.
This is similar to a parent giving their child a “bedtime.” You know you are doing this for their health, but they see it as an infringement upon their playtime. However, since you truly know what is best for their health, you have to insist upon this command for the child’s own good.
That is how God sees the Sabbath. It’s for our own good. We need rest to be healthy, spiritually as well as physically.
The next commandment I would like to mention is “Thou shalt not steal.” What happens when a person steals something? When they are caught they are usually sent to prison, which dangerous. Not to mention it is far from the comforts and peace of home.
However, the worst part about stealing is the fact that trust and respect have been lost from those they knew. Friendships are harder to form, and years of their lives are lost.
What Is A Parent To Do?
Eventually, as your toddler grows and enters their teen years, your child may question many things. Your child will test the boundaries and limits of parental patience, ignoring the teaching of the Father. This child, through lack of wisdom, unknowingly causes great harm to him or herself. What is a parent to do?
God gives us a great example by showing patience, grace, and mercy during this time. He sees the Israeli people, His people, falling farther away from Him. The people were acting like rebellious teenagers, our Father gently tries to get their attention, so He sends prophets to remind them of the “wrong turn” they have made and guide them back to the correct path. The Israelites failed to heed the word of God and saw no need to return and follow God’s wisdom. Like many adolescent kids they may think: “We know what we’re doing. God’s just another god; He’s not going to do anything. Besides, we’re doing great, why should we change?”
You Are The Company You Keep
Here is yet another example: Let’s say your teenager is with his friends running errands for the family. One or more of the friends who don’t know God convince your child to make a detour. This detour takes him to a party. This party has drugs, alcohol, and immoral behavior. Your son decides to enter this party and unfortunately, is drawn to this ungodly behavior.
Most parents will notice if their child is late. I certainly would be concerned if my son or daughter didn’t come home, thinking he or she may have car trouble or been in an accident.
Instead, you find the child, who knows better, has engaged in this dangerous activity.
As a parent, you have set the boundaries, the expectations in behaviors that are designed to help the child and ensure their safety and prosperity. Why? Because you love your child.
However, your child has become rebellious.
Israel also became rebellious.
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, written by the Hand of God Himself set clear expectations of behavior for not just the Jewish people but all people:
The rebellious people broke every single one of the commandments. What’s an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and loving God to do?
God sent many prophets to Israel and Judah to speak to the leaders and the people about their actions. He reminded them this is against God and to return, to repent, and He would forgive them of their transgressions. Sadly they didn’t listen. They stopped following the wisdom of God and followed their own flawed carnal hearts.
After repeated attempts to turn them aside from this evil, God saw no choice but to punish the people of Israel, to break them of the behavior that eventually led to their destruction. God lifted His Hand of safety and provision.
Lifting His Hand
God used ungodly nations to enact judgment on Israel’s behavior. The Assyrians, the Chaldeans, and the Babylonians invaded, put under siege, and destroyed Jerusalem and most of Israel. The Israelites paid a heavy price for their transgressions against God. Many were killed, many were taken as slaves, and only a remnant of the population survived so they may rebuild their nation and reaffirm God’s sovereignty and return to the land of milk and honey known as Israel.
Seventy years passed before the Israelites returned. Just as a potter needs to tear down a flawed clay pot, God had to tear down Israel’s disobedient behavior, and rebuild the nation, rebuild the love and care he has for the children of Israel because a good parent loves His children.
Most disobedient teenagers eventually will mature and grow out of this rebellious stage. A few, unfortunately, do not survive. Wisdom and guidance were not given or maybe not well received. I hope Jesus is comforting these lost souls as well as their grieving families. These children are now at rest in the loving arms of Jesus.
The Fight
Disobedient behavior requires patience, guidance, and carefully metered correction. This also must be administered with love designed to benefit the child with a positive outcome. The process may be difficult but well worth the fight. Yes, the fight is against Satan’s evil and his design to deceive us and destroy us, keeping us away from the love of God.
Please teach your children early in life about the care and love of God. Teach them gently about accountability and about responsibility for one’s actions and the consequences that may follow. As your children learn about God and the love of Jesus Christ they will accept the boundaries for what they are; a sign of God’s love, along with all the hugs, kisses, and high fives you can give them. Praise them often, just as God would praise them. Remember, Jesus gave His Life for ALL His children, including you, because He loves you.
CWS/abs
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Isaiah and Jeremiah – Disobedience and Redemption
All Good Parents
Make the Right Turn
All good parents want to guide their children in a manner that will help them lead a life filled with joy and peace and respect for one another. However, every family goes through periods when their children become disobedient and somewhat stubborn.
For instance, A caring parent will first teach their children the proper and correct way to grow and learn new and different things. As a mother reminds her toddler not to touch a hot stove for his protection; the same is true of God when he reminds His people not to behave in certain manners for their protection.
Protection and Safety
At this moment, I am spending time with God by reading His Word in the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah. Throughout these two books, we read about disobedience and redemption. I am also reminded of how God shows his love as a caring Father who wants to protect and nurture His children.
That is why The Jewish people needed the Ten Commandments to give them a moral foundation of Godly teaching. If you really look at the ten commandments, you will see that obedience to them only helps protect and create safety for His children.
I’ll just pick two of them at this time. One that most people don’t understand states, “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.”
Numerous studies have shown that mankind needs to rest. Without rest, the mind as well as the body simply can’t function as well. Therefore what seems to be an obsolete commandment has actually been proven to be a benefit to people.
Rest and peace are also achieved while worshiping and praising our Heavenly Father. Through keeping this day, Holy for God, we can renewing our faith and spirit as well.
This is similar to a parent giving their child a “bedtime.” You know you are doing this for their health, but they see it as an infringement upon their playtime. However, since you truly know what is best for their health, you have to insist upon this command for the child’s own good.
That is how God sees the Sabbath. It’s for our own good. We need rest to be healthy, spiritually as well as physically.
The next commandment I would like to mention is “Thou shalt not steal.” What happens when a person steals something? When they are caught they are usually sent to prison, which dangerous. Not to mention it is far from the comforts and peace of home.
However, the worst part about stealing is the fact that trust and respect have been lost from those they knew. Friendships are harder to form, and years of their lives are lost.
What Is A Parent To Do?
Eventually, as your toddler grows and enters their teen years, your child may question many things. Your child will test the boundaries and limits of parental patience, ignoring the teaching of the Father. This child, through lack of wisdom, unknowingly causes great harm to him or herself. What is a parent to do?
God gives us a great example by showing patience, grace, and mercy during this time. He sees the Israeli people, His people, falling farther away from Him. The people were acting like rebellious teenagers, our Father gently tries to get their attention, so He sends prophets to remind them of the “wrong turn” they have made and guide them back to the correct path. The Israelites failed to heed the word of God and saw no need to return and follow God’s wisdom. Like many adolescent kids they may think: “We know what we’re doing. God’s just another god; He’s not going to do anything. Besides, we’re doing great, why should we change?”
You Are The Company You Keep
Here is yet another example: Let’s say your teenager is with his friends running errands for the family. One or more of the friends who don’t know God convince your child to make a detour. This detour takes him to a party. This party has drugs, alcohol, and immoral behavior. Your son decides to enter this party and unfortunately, is drawn to this ungodly behavior.
Most parents will notice if their child is late. I certainly would be concerned if my son or daughter didn’t come home, thinking he or she may have car trouble or been in an accident.
Instead, you find the child, who knows better, has engaged in this dangerous activity.
As a parent, you have set the boundaries, the expectations in behaviors that are designed to help the child and ensure their safety and prosperity. Why? Because you love your child.
However, your child has become rebellious.
Israel also became rebellious.
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, written by the Hand of God Himself set clear expectations of behavior for not just the Jewish people but all people:
The rebellious people broke every single one of the commandments. What’s an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and loving God to do?
God sent many prophets to Israel and Judah to speak to the leaders and the people about their actions. He reminded them this is against God and to return, to repent, and He would forgive them of their transgressions. Sadly they didn’t listen. They stopped following the wisdom of God and followed their own flawed carnal hearts.
After repeated attempts to turn them aside from this evil, God saw no choice but to punish the people of Israel, to break them of the behavior that eventually led to their destruction. God lifted His Hand of safety and provision.
Lifting His Hand
God used ungodly nations to enact judgment on Israel’s behavior. The Assyrians, the Chaldeans, and the Babylonians invaded, put under siege, and destroyed Jerusalem and most of Israel. The Israelites paid a heavy price for their transgressions against God. Many were killed, many were taken as slaves, and only a remnant of the population survived so they may rebuild their nation and reaffirm God’s sovereignty and return to the land of milk and honey known as Israel.
Seventy years passed before the Israelites returned. Just as a potter needs to tear down a flawed clay pot, God had to tear down Israel’s disobedient behavior, and rebuild the nation, rebuild the love and care he has for the children of Israel because a good parent loves His children.
Most disobedient teenagers eventually will mature and grow out of this rebellious stage. A few, unfortunately, do not survive. Wisdom and guidance were not given or maybe not well received. I hope Jesus is comforting these lost souls as well as their grieving families. These children are now at rest in the loving arms of Jesus.
The Fight
Disobedient behavior requires patience, guidance, and carefully metered correction. This also must be administered with love designed to benefit the child with a positive outcome. The process may be difficult but well worth the fight. Yes, the fight is against Satan’s evil and his design to deceive us and destroy us, keeping us away from the love of God.
Please teach your children early in life about the care and love of God. Teach them gently about accountability and about responsibility for one’s actions and the consequences that may follow. As your children learn about God and the love of Jesus Christ they will accept the boundaries for what they are; a sign of God’s love, along with all the hugs, kisses, and high fives you can give them. Praise them often, just as God would praise them. Remember, Jesus gave His Life for ALL His children, including you, because He loves you.
CWS/abs
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