Finger Pointing

She was up and down and up and down at dinner...and finally mom said Catherine, enough...you sit down and finish dinner or you will be excused and have no more. And Catherine looked sternly at mom, pointed her finger at her and said with great purpose..."Don't talk to me that way!" which brought to the surface the fact that Catherine is sometimes not aware of...."I am the mom you are the child...you will obey me when I tell you to do something....and you will not speak back to me in this way." The conversation was over, Catherine sat quietly back in her seat and dinner was finished.

It is a conversation that most of us have had at one time or another....as parents,as grandparents, as teachers, as volunteers etc....the words might be slightly different but the jest is the same...Who is running the show here? Who is the authority?....Who is in charge?...Who is in command? And the answer is quite simple....the older, more established, wiser, more experienced, able, active one who has a proven track record is...the designated leader. The one who has earned trust...and provided for needs, and who has been consistent and faithful.

Now reading throguh that...shift positions....and remember that we are the children...and God is the heavenly parent. It sounds like such blatant behavior to point the finger and say "don't talk to me like that" but in reality don't we do that to God. Don't we question his authority...His ways...and the calls that he sometimes makes....and we do it without regard to respect and honor and obedience. We just flat defy him in his rules and overstep the boundaries that he has made for us so that we do what we please when we please and without anyone "telling" us to do somethign in a way that doesn't match up with our own will. We may not actually point the finger at him...but figuratively we do question him and try to control the situations that are before us without regard to his input. We do not ask how something should be handled, or for wisdom in handling it or often times don't have patience to wait on God for direction. We want it done our way...and we want it now...

God's way has rewards of peace and joy and contentment..if we submit to our own ways and disregard God's ways...I think you will agree that so many times we forfeit His rewards and end up with consequences that are frustrating, hurtful, tangled, bring about anxiety, unbalance, and just flat rock our lives into an unsettled tizzy.

We are no different than my little two year old Catherine...our situations are just bigger and for an older audience and are more complicated. That word obedience is a frightful term....it means we have to give up our control and independence and be dependent on a parent who has seen all and done all and even knows all. We think becasue we have been around the block a few times and that this isn't our first rodeo (I love that term) that we are prepared for whatever is thrown our way...and we have a tendency to evoke our prideful ways and disregard help of any kind because we do not want to want to have to give up our own authority.

So we try to stand our ground...and sometimes it even works...but in the long run we grow weary and unsettled becasue life is hard and we do need help. We need Jesus' help... if only we would obediently give him our best shot at following his ways and seeking his guidance and leadership....oh how much joy would be dolled upon us and oh how much peace would be within us.

It is simple...trust God and obey him...watch for his leads...and listen in your heart for his instructions....just as an earthly parent tries to grow their children up in love and wisdom...with protection...so does our heavenly Father want to grow us up to be all that he has intended and purposed us to be. But we must be submissive to his instruction and not so quick to point our finger at His ways and acts and instructions that we do not understand. Jesus sits on his heavenly throne in authority...no one is greater or wiser or more loving or more forgiving than he is..And each day it is through his grace that he willingly parents us; trying to keep us focused on what is good and just, trying to protect us from lurking harm, trying to lead us to His righteous way of living....and loving us all the while in spite of our disobedience.

Jude 1:25
to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Today, as you go throguh your day...consider Jesus to be the passenger in your car, the partner in your workplace, the overseer of your deeds, and the friend who is devoted to you in way that no one else could possibly understand....and listen for his calls and his guide....and just wait a minute before you speak or act.....then choose....His way or your way? And then decide who is in control here...in your life...You or Jesus? And if your finger is pointing at God and accusing him of unjust calls...take a look at the other three fingers and look who they are pointing at. We just might be the ones who need a little adjusting.

Dear Lord, It is so easy to see in children when they misbehave and act selfishly ...oh but in reality we are children ourselves who do not behave or speak as we are called to do...in love, in service , in forgiveness and in grace. Help us to seek your authority and not to resent it. And help us, too, Lord to respect your ways and adhere by your rules and boundaries even when we do not understand them. Amen

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Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

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