I had a friend that failed to read up on the traffic rules and signage for Holland when he visited the country on a business trip. He knew it wasn’t England so he would get to drive on the “normal” side of the road and thus assumed all else would be similar to his American experience. Upon arrival in Amsterdam he promptly drove into the centrum and found a handy parking spot in front of a restaurant. After ordering some breakfast he looked out the window to see the car being towed off! He had parked in a “No Parking” zone. Pleading ignorance to the foreign sign was not an adequate excuse and did not reduce the fine. A very expensive lesson in obedience was learned.
King David had a similar experience when he tried to move the ark of God that was parked in Kiriath Jearim. Now established as king over Israel, David had moved from Hebron to Jerusalem and proceeded to move the ark to Jerusalem as well. With his top men preparing a new cart, the journey with the ark of God commenced. All was good until the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to stabilize the ark. He was struck dead for taking hold of the ark. God had specific rules on how the ark was to be moved and for who could move it (2Samuel 6:1-15). Pleading ignorance to those rules did not bring Uzzah back to David. A very expensive lesson in obedience was learned.
“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” – 1Peter 1:14-15. Obedience to the world, to the evil desires that tempt at every turn comes natural. It is in the supernatural that we must live, under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The charge is to keep eyes focused on Jesus the Christ and walk in His strength to be holy in all we do. As dads, it is our responsibility to lead the way in obedience. Succumbing to worldly temptations or pleading ignorance to God’s word is not an option. Walk boldly in the power of the resurrected Christ, under the influence of the Holy Spirit and obey. Only then can we become the men, husbands and fathers the next generation needs.
Tips to Be Obedient:
- Read the Bible – Commit to reading through the Bible, be it in 90 days or a year;
- Study the Bible - Attend a regular Bible Study Fellowship or Sunday school;
- Be conformed to the image of His Son – Establish a group of Battle Buddies to meet with regularly that will hold you accountable on this journey.
Prayer guide: Lord, thank You for Your Word and for Your Son. Strengthen my resolve to read and study Your Word, to know Your Son Jesus the Christ. Help me turn from the natural to the supernatural, to be obedient and to be conformed to the likeness of Your Son (Rom.8:29). By Your grace I will become the man, husband and father You expect me to be, that the next generation needs to see. Amen
A faithful father leads by example in obedience supernaturally in this world.
