Because I said So
April 17, 2008
Today's Passage: Numbers 3
My name is Parker Stilley and I am in the 4th grade. I have a wonderful family including my mother, father, one sister, two brothers, and (if you can believe it) another baby brother or sister coming in September.
I am interested in reading long books and I have a website where I sometimes post my art. I have performed with The Promise, along with my mother and sister.
I am a believer in Jesus and my dad baptized me in a lake three years ago when our church met there for worship one Sunday, and the water was FREEZING.
Key Verse:
"The LORD said to Moses, ... Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the LORD.... Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the LORD. (Numbers 3:40,51)
Central Truth:
Our actions should be governed by the nature of God and in obedience to His commands.
Because I said so
On more than one occasion when I have asked "Why", I have heard my mom and dad respond "Because I said so." I don't particulary like that answer, but as I get older I come to understand it better. My parents tell us that they will often instruct us do things because they have information or reasons that we don't, shouldn't, or can't know. My parents want me, my brothers and sister to do what they tell us to do not because we agree with their reasoning but because of who they are and because we trust them enough to do it simply because they told us to do it.
In Numbers 3 we read that God gave specific commands to the Israelites and He expected them to obey his commands because "I am the Lord" and because they had been "commanded by the word of the Lord." God was their authority.
The teacher is the authority in the classroom. What happens when students disobey a teacher? Without obedience there is no order, and without order there can be no learning in the classroom.
What happened when the Israelites disobeyed the Lord who was their authority? Without obedience there could be no blessing.
Without obedience, bad stuff happens.
I should obey my parents, because they are my parents/authority and because they say so.
I should obey my teacher, because she is my teacher/authority and because she says so.
I should obey my God, because he is my God/Authority and because He says so.
Isn't it great that God has told us all about himself in the Bible? By reading it we we can come to know Him better. And, coming to know Him better we can learn to trust Him more completely. And, learning to trust Him completely makes it easier to do what He has told us to do in the Bible "because He said so."
Discussion Questions:
1. How much do you trust God? Is He really your Authority, or are you living in disobedience?
2. Do you do what God tells you to do "because He said so" or because you happen to agree with it?
3. Are you reading your Bible so that you know what God wants you to do?
READ MORE
0 comments:
Post a Comment