In a show, be it television or theater, when an actor deviates from the script, the director will promptly stop the action and remind him that it is critical to stay on script for the show to be successful. If the individual insists on following his own script, it takes the show into unchartered territory and disrupts critical cues for the other actors.
In life, one’s script is the word of God, the Bible. The Lord God provides very clear direction on relationship with Him, in marriage and family and relationships with others. As one deviates from the script, God does not stop the action. Man was given the right to choose a different script with the understanding that choices have consequences. Deviating from God’s script has led marriage and family into unchartered territory and disrupted critical cues needed for the next generation to embrace His script.
“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. … However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you.”- Deuteronomy 28:1&15. Moses explained to the Israelites that there are benefits to following God’s script and consequences when one deviates from the script. “Anyone who loves Me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them. Anyone who does not love Me will not obey My teaching.”- John 14:23-24. Jesus restated the benefit of obeying the Father’s script and summed up His teaching in two commands, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. … Love your neighbor as yourself.”- Matthew 22:37&39. In the Engagement Project, Dr. Del Tackett defines this agape love as a “steadfast, sacrificial zeal that seeks the true good of another.” God’s script is to love as Christ loves, steadfastly and sacrificially in a way that always blesses others. The call is to stay on script and live under the word of God. And others will be blessed.
As a nation, the script is the Constitution of the United States and Declaration of Independence. In his book, Last Call for Liberty, Os Guinness draws a parallel between the covenant the Israelites established with God and the covenant/constitution the founding fathers established with God and the people. In both cases, the covenant was a matter of "freely chosen consent" and of "a morally binding pledge." In the covenantal relationship between God, the government and the people, respect for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all requires all to stay on script. If we deviate, the consequences are not pretty.
Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and for the covenantal relationship You offer. I confess that I too often focus on my script and get frustrated when others do not abide by my script. Forgive me. Grant me discernment to walk in the freedom that is Your word in my life. All the noise in this world is kept in perspective as I stay on script with You. Strengthen me in Your word to love as You love, to show that “steadfast, sacrificial zeal that seeks the true good of another.” By Your grace and for Your glory, I will convey the critical nature of staying on script with You in the home and public square to the next generation. Amen.
A faithful father stays on script with the Lord at home and in the public square.
In a show, be it television or theater, when an actor deviates from the script, the director will promptly stop the action and remind him that it is critical to stay on script for the show to be successful. If the individual insists on following his own script, it takes the show into unchartered territory and disrupts critical cues for the other actors.
