Playing Dumb

“If only you had paid attention to My commands. Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:18

It was a Sunday afternoon in the back seat of our dad’s car coming home from church. My sister Becki and I decided we needed to tear the comics out of the newspaper on the way home – don’t ask me why. Daddy warned us several times to stop and leave the paper alone. The final warning came as we had ripped another comic in half – well almost. There was only an eighth of an inch left to complete the task. We knew we had been amply warned and our dad was true to his promises – both good and bad. We looked at each other, met glances and without words ripped the final piece. My dad had a new plan for when we arrived home. The promise of a nice Sunday afternoon was suddenly replaced with discipline and punishment. When we got home we bolted up the steps and taped the paper together again only to receive what was justly promised.

Before God disciplines we usually receive warnings much like we did from our dad. We play dumb but God knows the heart of those who belong to Him. He knows when we have heard Him and are choosing to walk in disobedience.

The promises in the Bible from God are laced with peace and righteousness for those who seek His will, obey His words and bend their heart and mind towards Him. We each have seasons in our lives when we sit in the back seat, try not to make “Spirit-contact” for we know that we are getting ready to finish the deed that may separate us temporarily from our Father’s approval. God speaks about what we would have had through our obedience and the majesty of our righteousness as power, peace and purpose.

Our Father must discipline us when we waver from His commands even if we try to tape everything back together for His approval. We know if our children know right from wrong in every circumstance. If they didn't know we will extend grace as a teaching tool but if we know in their heart they fully know their disobedience, it is our responsibility to discipline.

It is not the deed that God disciplines but the child for whom He wishes to fellowship as He examines His motives and understanding of that sin.