March 23, 2007

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

--Psalm 84:11


I remember how much it used to bug me as a child when my parents gave me rules to follow, and held me to them. I thought those rules were unfair, and were only meant to keep me from doing fun things. But as I grew older, I came to realize that my dad and mom laid down those rules for my own good.

That’s exactly how it is with our heavenly Father. He sets up boundaries to keep us from hurting ourselves. But more than just that, He also gives us rules so that we can have the freedom to run within those safe boundaries.

Would you let your child run across a busy street? I know you wouldn’t. And I’m also sure that your child doesn’t always understand what’s wrong with that. When a parent gives this rule to a child, are they trying to control and frustrate the child? Of course not; they are trying to do what’s best to protect their child.

We need to remember that when we disobey God and “run into the street,” we are not only rejecting His authority, we are putting ourselves in harm’s way. God’s commandments and instructions are not there to constrain us, but to free us from the worry of harm or danger.

Make up your mind today to follow God’s instructions in His Word, knowing that they aren’t there to trap you, but to set you free!


WHEN WE DISOBEY GOD, WE NOT ONLY REJECT HIS AUTHORITY—WE PUT OURSELVES IN HARM’S WAY.