Worship

Scripture

Sometimes a dad has to remind his son who’s boss. Moms will never understand this dynamic, but the rules of the wild must be honored. One evening Canaan decided he wanted to test me. It started with poking my back while I lay on the floor, then he started smacking my shoulder. Hearing his giggle escalate and growing annoyed at the same time I said, “Boy, you better watch it.” Challenge accepted. The next thing I know he hauls off and sucker punches me right in the side. I looked at him and said, “You touch me one more time and I’m gonna teach you a lesson.” What do you think he did? 

That fiasco ended with a full-blown WWE suplex, followed by a flying elbow from the top of the couch, capped off with a pile driver into a pillow leaving him laid out on the floor while I gave him a 3-count and tickled him until he started crying. Embarrassed about his butt whipping he started fussing with his mom. She asked me what happened and I said, “Babe, I warned the boy what would happen if he kept coming at me.” 

Let’s just say from that moment on he’s taken his father’s warnings seriously. 

We should do the same when God issues a warning to us. In Isaiah 50:10-11 God issues a stark warning to those who believe they can do life without Him: “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.”

Yikes! The imagery of light and fire begs the question: What is leading us and satisfying our needs? Temptation and the cultural anthem is to follow our own light and warm ourselves by the fires of our own feelings, the only problem is that light is limited and those fires burn out. The Lord is the everlasting light and fire that can’t go out. Which do you need today? A reminder to rely on the Lord or a warning to not follow your own way? Whichever it is, heed the warning, or far worse than a suplex awaits.

Prayer

HONOR GOD

Romans11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

 In every instance that I do not have an answer, God does. 

ASK GOD

Romans 8:32 NASB

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 

 Surely the Lord is willing to grant us our very minor requests in comparison to the absolute best that Heaven has to offer; which He has already given us in His son Jesus!

SUBMIT TO GOD

Lamentations 3:24-25

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I wait for Him.” The Lord is good to those who await Him, To the person who seeks Him. 

 I chose to wait until God’s answer is clear, until His hand is present, until His peace is my guiding force. I trust in His goodness.

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, we know you are in control. Thank you that we can trust in your power and your word. Help us to recognize the magicians and illusions of this world that will attempt to distract us from your power. May your Holy Spirit lead us through conviction and encouragement to trust in your holy word.  In Jesus Name, Amen.