Fathers day and obedience

The Bible is an exciting book of real life.
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Mat 7:24
What is this house? It is your thoughts, desires, belief, your trust, your relationships, your vocation, your ambition, in fact your whole life. When things go wrong in our relationships it’s like sinking sand, the difficulties happen, can’t cope. Things falling apart, don’t know what to do. The Bible gives guidance to prevent this using the word obedient when talking about listening and responding to God:
Be obedient to husbands Tit 2:5
As obedient children 1 Peter 1:14
Obey your parents Eph 6:7 Col 3:20
Obey your masters Col 3:22
Obey the gospel (message of how to be saved) Rom 10:16
In the parable of the wise man and foolish man who built houses Jesus said, “Those who hear my words and responds putting them into practice is like a wise man.
Blessed are they that do his commands, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city.
The first part of obedience is getting right in the most important relationship, with God. If you feel God is speaking to your heart on your standing with God, and you know you need to put things right with God. Obedience is listening to what God says and responding.
In the parable foolish man must have known rock is best that the rain may come that sand moves about and is unstable, but what did he do, he didn’t listen to the truth. The problem wasn’t the sand or the rain it was that he didn’t listen and respond to what he heard. Like someone who knows what is right and doesn’t do it. Does that ring a bell? Have you heard a small inner voice or have you been challenged by what you’ve heard when and done nothing. You see the foolish man does what a lot say ‘I know best’. Many people think the parable of the two houses wise man and foolish man is about making the right choice. No, it is about obedience and disobedience. It is either about hearing what God says and doing it or hearing what God says and ignoring it. If you one of these people who like to be making the decisions for yourself, like being independent then don’t hold back. Trust God because he wants to use the uniqueness and individuality in yourself.
Obedience to God is trusting that God know best. ‘That old song says “Trust and obey for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”
“A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.” Proverbs 1:5
One of the greatest stories of a father’s love is the Prodigal son, he said ‘I know what I want and that is best.’ He left home went his way a place of disobedience, in a desperate situation, with no hope returns home sorry. When that happens in the Jewish community people who live in the village when they see a person coming back, who has left their family, they run out and smash a clay vase/pitcher in front of him, meaning his ties with the community were broken and he was no longer welcome. That’s why the father ran to meet him saying ,”I have to get to my son with grace before they get him with the law. I have to give him hope before they take it away. What the father did God will do for you, if you turn to him. The son said “I have sinned”. The father took out the best robe and put it on him before he had a chance to clean up, with the smell of the pigs. God covers our sinfulness in the robe of Christ’s righteousness. From that point on he sees us ‘In Christ’. Therefore we are always acceptable in his eyes.
A mother and father’s job is to provide a place, a space where your child can come in desperation to be loved and accepted. I am speaking from experience. The parable of the prodigal son tells of a father who waits for the moment when he can show being a father, welcoming, forgiving, accepting and understanding. The Bible gives us some clues for being a good father. A good father doesn’t push their views on their children, too often fathers want their child to be what they couldn’t, putting too much pressure. Fathers don’t create a situation where a child feels they can’t live up to you and then disconnects from the family because of unacceptance, over ambition or an unbending will.
Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
Bring your situations to God, pray about them and wait for God to answer, believing. When you read a part of the Bible you do it with the Holy Spirits help, read ready to listen and act.
Don’t neglect what God offers you, don’t turn away your ear at God’s voice, you want a great life “Trust and obey for there’s no other way” ask God to save you, restore you, start from now on listening and responding to God. Pray about it, be open for change, be ready for great things, be forgiving, be the one who restores what is lost, be wise and be the person God intended you to be, it can only happen when you realise your own failings, ask God to forgive you and ask him into all parts of your life.