A Lesson In Obedience
By Patty Wysong
“And thou shalt return and obey
the voice of the LORD, and do
all his commandments which I
command thee this day.”
Deuteronomy 30:8
uring the past few days I've put in a lot of hours working on lesson plans. As I was working, I noticed that one of my boys had skipped a couple assignments that I had written in the margin of the lesson assignment sheet we had just finished.
“Did you do the review and take the test for chapter 7?” I asked him as I sat at the table, papers and books all around me. I knew the answer, but I wanted him to see the error of his way.
“Um, no.” he muttered as he tried edging into the kitchen.
“But you're almost done with chapter 8 and I reminded you of the test.”
The birdie on my shoulder whispered something about being distracted this week, but I went back to talking so I wouldn't have to listen to her.
“Why do you think I spend hours making up lesson assignment sheets? To make paper airplanes out of them? It does no good whatsoever for me to make them and you not follow them. By not following the assignments, everything gets messed up!”
That's when God's neon “Duh” sign flashed right in front of me. I felt the impact of it from my head down to my toes.
The birdie on my shoulder had to get her two cents in too. “And just what do you think it does when you ignore God's plans and assignments and do your own thing? Sister, let me tell you, it doesn't come out smelling like roses. It makes things stink around here!”
God's message to me got through loud and clear.
“Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.” I Samuel 15:22-3