My dad was the kind of dad that explained everything. When we would get hurt, he would explain why; when it was time for our spankings, he would set down and logically explain why we deserved the punishment. He wanted us to fully understand the consequences of our actions and not assume that things happen merely by chance, but rather are the direct result something else that has occurred. I suppose you could say it was a continuing lesson in the ‘Law of Relativity.' This sounds strange I know, but in reality it saved my sister and I a lot of pain and suffering. I specifically remember instances where I refused to join in, or start something, simply because I thought about the consequences before I acted.
As my walk with God began to grow, daddy's way of explaining things came into play again. We would set for hours reading and discussing the passages in God's Holy Word. Dad's method had changed somewhat, no longer did he show us the meaning, but rather he wanted us to "teach" him. We were placed in the instructor's seat, we were to find the meaning of the lines, and seek out that which God would have us know. Again, he was forcing us to understand the great responsibility of our lives: We are not here on this earth to merely go about our daily wondering's, but that we must seek and find our purpose, we must "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:14)
Paul, in his inspired writings, told us that "no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Heb. 12:11) Dad was doing so much more than simply showing us a better way, he was instructing us in righteousness. Giving us greater understanding of how we must conduct ourselves in our work for the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul continues his message of relativity by exhorting us that, "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Vs. 9) This is our duty as children of the most high: To seek a greater, closer, and more holy walk with God. We are to desire his will in our lives, even to the "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (II Cor. 10:5). |
