Rest will always be a choice you make
God’s expectations are a shield around us. They are there to protect us, to keep us out of traffic I guess you could say.
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (James 1:22)
Why does it matter if our pets obey us?
Have you ever seen a truly well-trained dog? It’s a thing of beauty. Watching the dogs on those Westminster shows as they navigate obstacle courses and strut their stuff for a global audience, it’s amazing. Or if you’ve ever seen a service dog at work, it’s extraordinary how they know to help and support their person.
We value obedience in pets, not just because it’s convenient. It is, of course. When a pet obeys, it saves time and struggle and effort on the owner’s part. There’s little more frustrating when a pet does something they know not to do. But it’s more than that. A good pet owner trains obedience into an animal for its benefit.
Pets don’t always understand how the human world works. They don’t understand that cars won’t always stop for them, that not all pet owners are the same, and that the world is full of danger. Pet owners train their animal to protect them. And then, once the animal has obeyed and done what their owner asks of them, the pet is in a place where the owner can reward them.
Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not comparing people to pets. I’m not saying God is a pet owner. But I don’t know if you’ve noticed that there are many similarities between raising a pet animal and raising a human being.
It can be tempting to believe that all of God’s rules and expectations are there to squash our fun and prevent us from enjoying life. That’s our sinful natures talking, though. God’s expectations are a shield around us. They are there to protect us, to keep us out of traffic I guess you could say.
The thing is, God won’t ever force us to obey Him. That would entirely defeat the purpose. Obedience can’t be coerced. If God compels us to do what He says, He removes the element of free will from the equation, and that takes away the glory of who He is and what He has done in our hearts.
We must be free to choose.
But when we do choose to do things His way, that’s when we put ourselves in a place where He can bless us. He can reward us because we have done things in line with the blessings He wants to give us.
The greatest irony of God’s Way is that what He asks us to do is truly beneficial for us. It’s our rebellious human spirits that push back, that refuse to obey simply because we want to control our own lives.
So when God tells us to rest, it’s not a suggestion. This is a command, and He expects obedience. Yes, we have a choice. We always have a choice. But when we choose to obey, God can bless us.
Questions for Reflection
Why do you think obedience is a prerequisite to God’s special blessings?
Why do we always want to do what we’re not supposed to do?
Why does it matter that God gives us a choice?
Weekly Memory Verse
