We lived in a big old remodeled house in town when we were raising six children. The playroom was in the finished basement apartment, where they spent time after homework was done, playing games and watching television.
One day I was aggravated because I was sure they were ignoring me. I was raising my voice to be heard to call them up to help with dinner. But no one was coming, after several times of calling them, I suspected they were deliberately ignoring me.
Because I was sure they were ignoring me, I experimented, I said in a soft normal voice, "would anyone like an ice cream cone?" There was a stampeed to get upstairs, I was at the top of the stairs and said, "oh so you can hear me. Sorry there is no ice cream I was just asking to see if you could hear me." I didn't lie, I asked them if they would like one, I didn't say there was one.
I made the point that the children had selective hearing, which by the way is disobedience. I then made the point that partial obedience is also disobedience.
When one of the children was instructed to take his coat up stairs and hang it in his closet, he moved very slowly in an attitude of rebellion, then when he got to his bedroom door, he opened it and tossed it into the room, returning to report that he had taken his coat up stairs as I asked him to do, after which I launched into my teaching that partial obedience is no obedience at all. Moving slowly was a manipulative tactic to cause frustration, easily seen by a wise parent but difficult to prove.
We do this with God, we say we are "Bible Believing" Christians while at the same time ignoring most if not all of God's principles. We obey in one area...sort of ....and disobey most everything else. Somehow we get the feeling that if we did it partially, that is good enough.
I was not unhappy merely because the coat was tossed into a room rather than hung on the hook, I was dismayed that I was disregarded, ignored and even mocked by the act of disobedience and rebellion. I had an inkling how God feels when we flaunt our freedom through covert rebellion.
When we disregard another human being, especially those in authority over us, we send the message that we care nothing about pleasing or helping them.
Children should be trained to care about the desires of the authority over them, if they don't learn to honor those they can see, they will never have a desire to please God they cannot see.
Honor and respect are required for obedience, when this is absent, then relationships are ruined, there is chaos in the home and community and selfishness grows.
Those who think they have a right to dishonor and disrespect those in authority over them, cause continual trials and discord with everyone who will not cater to them. When someone says to you, "I don't respect you", either through words or deliberate covert actions, we know there is no hope for that relationship.
Only through repentance, a change of mind toward their actions, will there be a change in their behavior. If our mind is not changed about the evil that we do, then our better actions will only be temporary and hypocritical. When we obey on the outside and disobey on the inside, we remain in sin.
I am reminded of the story someone once told about a little boy who was told to sit down after being chastised. He boldly proclaimed to his father...." I am sitting down on the outside but on the inside I am standing up."
How many of us obey outwardly but hold rebellion in our hearts at the prospect of having to obey?
There must be brokenness over sin before the changed actions will be permanent spiritual growth. If we think we can pretend that we never did the evil, acting friendly the next time we see the person we offended, and all will be alright, we are prideful, avoiding the necessary confession of sin to reconcile a relationship. In short, the way we relate to the offended party will not change, only short term change and superficiality remain, no fix at all!
God requires confession, when we have to humble ourselves, become embarrassed over our sin, it is much more likely that we won't want to repeat that same sin again, then there is permanent growth in holiness.
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
2 Corinthians 7:1 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
1 Peter 1:15-16 "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (actions); Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."
Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
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