(3 minute read) This week my wife and I celebrated 20 years of marriage. God gets the glory for this marriage and for the way we feel towards each other. As my wife puts it’ “we still like each other”. I believe this is a beautiful moment to share, so I just did 🙂

Madeline and Samuel grew up very close to each other. Their mother and father were intentional in raising them in ways to strengthen their faith and show the ways of God. As parents, they knew that the hardest thing to instill in children is how to obey God. So they took careful attention to instill and teach obedience to their children since they were born.

Maddie and Sam were an example of wonderful children; well behaved, never caused a scene, did great at school and always acted properly at home and outside. Their parents were like the proudest parents ever. They knew that they did a great job teaching their children to listen and obey. Just as they believed God desires from his creation, to listen and obey.

As Maddie and Sam approached college, they went to their parents and asked them which colleges they should apply to. Their parents felt so great to be asked to select colleges with their children. As they went through the process of selection, it became apparent that Maddie and Sam had no preferences whatsoever. When asked how they felt about this or that, the answer seemed to always be; “whatever you choose mom or I am happy with your choice dad.” The interesting thing is this bugged the parents greatly. Although Maddie and Sam were obviously truly content with their parent’s choices, the parents were gravely hoping that Maddie and Sam would make choices that reflect how well they were raised.

Instead Maddie and Sam were making zero choices they simply obeyed…………….. Their parents were utterly grieved as they had no idea how to undo what they have done to their children.

Our God, Father and Creator made us with one attribute that none of the rest of His Creation received; the power, attribute and ability to CHOOSE.

In His wisdom, Our Creator and Lord, chances that we choose not to follow Him, than to have created us similar to the rest of His creation. We all know that Obedience by definition means and implies no choice. Then why do we use this word!? To choose to obey  phrase is an oxymoron, in my humble opinion. We can definitely choose to follow, for following means and implies choosing. I believe the entire Bible is filled with examples after stories after examples of choosing and choosing and choosing.

The choice, every day and every moment to each one of us is; “do I do what would please Him now, or do I choose not to.” It is indeed difficult to ask this question in every little thing that we do or think. The question is; “will you and I choose to ask this question in every little thing every moment and every day!?” Choose to follow not just obey, for the choice is what brightens God’s heart, and puts a smile on His face.

May the glory be to our God, Father, Creator and Lord always and forever. Till next week 🙂