Following Directions

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.  Hebrews 2:1

I was in quite the predicament.  What on earth was I going to do?  My son had worked so hard, he studied all week for his test on Friday.  His answers, informationally, were all correct.  If I accept them he would get an A+.  There was only one problem, he didn't follow the directions.  He had circled the correct answers and not written them on the blank like he was instructed.  So what was more important?  Did it matter that he had not followed directions as long as he knew the information?

After much prayer and deliberation with my husband, we decided to let our son have a say.  He was very responsible about it.  He decided he shouldn't get an A if he didn't do the work right.  That sort of maturity out of him shocked us.  (Not to say he's not a good kid, he's just kind of silly a lot.)  So together, the three of us, we decided to just lower his grade one letter.  He was happy with his B+ and we knew he understand that he needed to follow directions. 

If only not following directions in grown up life was remedied so easily.  This action usually has much more serious consequences.  I suppose the first instance of this was Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  They failed to follow one very important God given instruction.  They just skipped over that commandment.  Doesn't that sound familiar?  Don't we do that today when a commandment doesn't quite fit our lifestyle?  When following might just be a little too hard?  We want to change God's way to our way.  What grade do we get on the test if God's commandments are the instructions?

Does my life reflect God's divine instructions?  Are we ever tempted to skip over the ones we really don't like?  Here is one that tests me:  "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22)  I am tempted to ask: Are you sure about that Lord?  Even when he's really wrong?  I know God isn't giving me this instruction to make my life more difficult.  He gives me directions because He loves me and wants to see me live a Christian life.  Jesus Christ died and rose again for me, for you.  In response to this I am driven by a bigger force than my temptation to question His commands.  I driven to a day when I can hear my Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." (Matthew 5:21)  We all deserve an E on the test but because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we will receive an A+.

A student of Christ,
Lutheran Chick