We are His children

Posted on by Joshua Huffman

Proverbs 4:1-2 (NIV)

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.

Proverbs 4:1-2 (KJV)

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
or I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

How many times now has God inspired Solomon to listen to our fathers, to seek wisdom and understanding, and not to forsake the law? A lot right. This reminds of my relationship with my mother. She has to constantly tell me to do stuff over and over again, always nagging at me to get it done. Why does she do this? Because I am horrible at listening sometimes, I get distracted, and sometimes I just forget but she keeps reminding me over and over again to make sure it gets done because it’s important. It’s important because it needs to get done, and it also teaches me responsibility (eventually).

I like to think God is doing the same to us. We are His children and as children we don’t always do as our parents tell us. They have to keep reminding us over and over again because we get distracted in our own little world and loose sight of what is best for us and focus on the silly things that grab our attention. This morning I read in Isaiah 28:9-10 (NLT)

“Who does the Lord think we are?” they ask.
“Why does he speak to us like this?
Are we little children,
just recently weaned?
He tells us everything over and over—
one line at a time,
one line at a time,
a little here,
and a little there!”

Here the Israelites are complaining about how God treats them like children and has to constantly remind them of the little things. Instead of being humble in their ways, they are proud and don’t appreciate God talking to them in this way. If you read further you will see that God punishes them for being proud.

We must humble ourselves before God as children, in reality isn’t that what we really are to God? His little children. We should be thankful when He reminds us over and over again for such little things. He sees the importance in reminding us, and He sees that we have gotten distracted from Him, so He gives us these reminders over and over again to help keep us on His path.

As you read these passages, don’t brush them off, but do as they say! Take seriously the instructions of our elders, they have lived life already and are wise in their ways. Pay attention and seek understanding and wisdom, we have discussed many times its benefits. Last but not least, let’s not forget about all the teaching Christ has given us! Don’t brush it off, don’t be proud like the Israelites and think you are already good. You’re not, no one is good enough, so let’s humble ourself before Him and take seriously His teachings. Read the Scriptures so that you may learn His teachings, become equipped for the battlefield, to heal your soul, and remind yourself of His amazing grace!

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