If you fear the Lord, worship and obey Him, and if you don’t rebel against the Lord’s command, then both you and the king who rules over you will follow the Lord your God. However, if you disobey the Lord and rebel against His command, the Lord’s hand will be against you and against your ancestors. 1 Samuel 12:14-15
We all desire for our children to obey and do what we say. We want only the best for them and provide direction to protect them. When our children are obedient, we are proud parents and want others to know that they are our children. On the other hand if they disobey, we may be reluctant to proclaim they belong to us. Regardless of their behavior, our children are still our children and we should love them unconditionally and continue to do what is best for them.
God loves all of His children and desires only the best for each one. If we follow His commands and directions we will find the abundant life that Jesus describes in John 10:10. God blesses the good and the bad, but I firmly believe that He watches over and protects those who obey Him and strive to follow His commands. When we rebel and disobey God’s laws, we usually suffer the consequences of our poor choices.
Challenge: Fear the Lord. The word “fear” carries the connotation that we are to treat God with reverence, honor, and respect. Worship the Lord. The word worship actually means to serve the Lord. Obey God. Follow His laws and the direction you find in the Bible. Regardless of your behavior, God still loves you and wants only the best for you.