Let's say your mother loves you *dearly*.
It would be HER joy even more than yours to see you to have a bicycle. But she knows that if she just gives you one today, you will not see it as her love, but as something you "deserve from her because she's your mother who's supposed to care for you after all."
So your mother comes and says, "Would you like to make this deal? I know you want a bicycle. If you do these things I list for you, then at the end of 6 months, I will give you that new bicycle you want so much. I won't pay you as you do these things, but sometimes I'll give you unexpected surprises during the six months. Do you want to agree to this?"
Now.... you're not thrilled when Mom makes her list:
1. Take out the trash to the yard bin every day.2. Keep your room clean -- UNDER the bed and IN THE CLOSET, too.
3. Wash the dishes right after each meal.... even the pots.
4. Do your homework without being told. AND do it WELL.... the best you can.
5. Keep the bathroom tidy.... including the seat (uugghhh!)
6. Hang up your coat as well as putting your clothes away.
7. Do your own laundry. You're certainly old enough to do that responsibility now.
8. No spending hours in front of the TV or internet... and no whining that you want what others have.
9. Yes, you MUST be kind to your little brother and help him out often.... without expecting reward.
10. And yes, you will go to church without complaining, as an honor and obedience to God.
But HEY -- you really want that Bike. So you tell Mom, "SURE!" And you're sorta excited by the promise of that coming bike!
As days and weeks go by, that list of 10 seems harder and harder. Especially taking care of Little Brat..... errrr, Brother.
But you keep thinking of that bicycle, so you keep trudging.
Often you miss, but Mom seems to still love you anyway.
So you start missing a little more, slacking off on doing the 10....
after all, 5 months, 4 months.... it's so far away Mom surely won't remember and refuse to give you the bike.... And Mom loves you too much to not give you the bike when your 6 months is up.
Here's only one verse:
God's Supporting Word of what this is a wrong idea:
If Jesus had done away with the 10,
why would God have told us through Paul:
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." -- Ephesians 6:1.
Here's what this has to do with dieting:
#1. (More in future blogs).
It's hard to stay STRONG (see the rest of
Ephesians 6) when we start thinking, 'Hey
God is love and there's no real consequences
to sin for Christ-Followers. Like me.
God knows I try. Mostly'
Are you and I excusing our sins of depending on
something besides God to give us joy???
NOT JUST FOOD.... This blog is really for EVERY sin
that entangles us..... "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of
this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier....." -->
Second Timothy 2.It's hard to stay STRONG (see the rest of
Ephesians 6) when we start thinking, 'Hey
God is love and there's no real consequences
to sin for Christ-Followers. Like me.
God knows I try. Mostly'
Are you and I excusing our sins of depending on
something besides God to give us joy???
NOT JUST FOOD.... This blog is really for EVERY sin
that entangles us..... "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of
this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier....." -->
God calls that "having idols".
I pray in Jesus's Holy Name.
©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website. But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com
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