Love or Obedience

   The love I feel for my children is indescribable. It was like an overwhelming tidal wave of emotion when my first-born arrived. And then I actually worried when number 2 was on his way that I wouldn’t be capable of loving him equally — how could I love any more than I already was? I needn't have worried. God, the miracle worker, was able to fit even more love into my heart that I thought was already at its maximum capacity; and my second-born was able to receive all my love also. By the time number 3 came around, I knew that God’s love planted in my heart would be abundantly available for him as well.

   It’s so easy to love our children.

   When they are little that’s all they need...our love, our care.  And then all too quickly they grow...

   Pretty soon, as a parent, you realize that they need a little more than love. They need discipline. Doling out discipline is actually a form of our love designed to bring about our childrens’ obedience.

   I want my children to love me and to obey me. I model this to them in my love of them and my discipline of them. But what if I could only choose one thing for them to do? Would I rather they love me? Or would I prefer that they obey me?

   “If you love Me, you will obey My commandments.” (John 14:15).

   Do ...