The Talking Card

Sunday morning I was listening to three-year-old Karissa dictate the message that I was writing in her Father’s Day card. 

“Is this card going to talk to Daddy?” she asked. 

“Yes,” I responded. 

“Hey—that’s like God talking to us!  In the Bible!”

No Other Way

My second grade teacher drilled a definition of obedience into my head that I can still quote today: “Obedience is doing what you’re told to do, when you’re told to do it, with the right heart attitude.”  There is a lot of truth to that definition, and I’ve found myself explaining it to more than one child in my life.  But the truth that is hidden, buried perhaps in the last phrase, is the motive for obedience.  Trust.  The hymn chorus goes thus, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way/ To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

So when my husband was disappointed in our daughter’s disobedience the other day, I found it interesting that his main sadness was in her inability to trust him.  And I began pondering the relationship between trust and obedience.  Sometimes we know (or think we’ve figured out) why we are asked to do something.  When we “know why” it seems easier to obey.  Maybe because trust is being transferred from the one giving instructions to our own reason.  But without trust, it is impossible to obey.  Without trust, whether to follow instructions becomes a choice, not obedience.  And obedience proves love.

I spent a summer babysitting a 9-year-old boy and his two younger sisters.  I still remember his mom explaining to me that he was much more willing to obey when he knew the reason for the instruction.  Her advice made so much sense.  If I could tell him the reason, I certainly would.  I know firsthand that I like to know the “why” of a requirement.  Conversely, he had to know that if I could not tell him the reason (whether I didn’t have time, or it was too complicated, etc.), he still needed to obey.

And that is trust.  Trust says to the one giving instructions¸ “You don’t have to tell me why.  I know there is enough interest in me and love toward me that motivates your request.  I will do what you ask as proof to you that I acknowledge your love and wisdom.”  Of course, human authority, even motivated by strong ties of love, will sometimes fail.  Trust given to human authority also involves forgiveness for mistakes. 

But God-authority never fails!  There are never unforeseen circumstances, unintended consequences, or unlooked for motives.  I pray that my authority to Karissa and Husdon balances explained instructions and earned trust.  I want to reflect God’s authority as I seek to be merely a channel of His grace and love.  And as He teaches me, may I trust God enough to simply obey.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)