Daily Light - April 20, 2011

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"Oh, that My people would listen to Me!"

Psalm 81:13

There have been many good and loving parents that have spent countless hours weeping for children who have turned in rebellion to the foolishness of sinful choices. These parents have taught their children the difference between right from wrong, yet they will not heed to all that they have been taught. Many of these "children" are now past adolescence into adult-hood and are still causing grief for their mothers and fathers. It is a painful event to watch a parent that hurts for their child so deeply.

God knows that grief. He has experienced it from those days in the Garden of Eden until today. How could Adam and Eve make such foolish choices after all that He had provided for them? How great was the despair of God as He watched the sin that dominated the lives of men and women in the days of Noah? He brought a nation out of Egypt and made them His own, yet they rejected Him time and time again. It was only when they were at the bottom and could find nothing in themselves that they turned back to God. He, being the loving and compassionate Father, saved them so many times in spite of their sin.

As a parent watches their child run from all that they have been taught, they are confused on why a child would go such a direction when they know the consequences that they are going to face will be so difficult. They have been show and given a better way, but for some reason they choose the way of pain and suffering. If only they would listen to wise counsel, they would find life to be so much more meaningful.

God often thinks the same things about us. He has pointed us in the direction of His Word and given us the example of His Son, Jesus Christ. He declares to our hearts, "This is the way, walk ye in it." However, we stubbornly refuse to listen and obey. We know the words they He says to us, but we fail to appropriate them into our lives. How impactful it is to hear the voice of God pleading with His children, "Listen to Me"! If we fail to listen, heed, and follow the voice of God, there is only pain and regret on the other side to show us our mistakes.

May we follow the leading of the Shepherd's voice today!