Parents protect their children from danger even danger that the child does not know exists. Similarly, we are in need of God’s protection in our lives because we are incapable of figuring everything out on our own. We need to seek His guidance in all that we decide to do.
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3 NLT)
When we have chosen to surrender ourselves as a child to our Heavenly Father’s authority, we need to relentlessly adapt to the boundaries and guidelines He has established for us. Often we will not recognize why God is telling us not to do something we really want to do, and which seems quite harmless to us. We must humbly admit that we just don’t know enough about the situation to defy His command. We need to trust God’s guidance and know that He desires what is best for us at all times. God is not depriving us of something we desire just to see if we will obey him. He is simply trying to keep us from harm.
And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. (Hebrews 12:5-7a NLT)
Only a negligent parent would allow a child to do what it wants. A child who is not disciplined is not pleasant to be around. We have proved that we are not pleasant to be around when we are choosing to do what is right in our own eyes. When God has authority in our lives we will find that life is much better for us and also for those we come into contact with.
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