Stop jumping on the bed!” my mother yelled to me from downstairs.
“Okay,” I replied.
And then do you know what I did next? I finished jumping. Jump! Jump! Jump! I was having way too much fun to stop! And I did not understand why she wanted me to stop jumping anyway. I did not think it really mattered! Now, do you know what happened next?
You got it. My mother stormed upstairs! She was very disappointed with my behavior. She explained to me that jumping on the bed can be dangerous because I could fall off and hurt myself. The fun was over.
Have you ever had something like this happen to you? Maybe you have done something you knew was against the rules, but you really did not think it mattered. Maybe you took an extra cookie after your mom told you not to. Or instead of cleaning your room when you were told, you decided to stuff all of the mess into your closet. You may think that these things are not a big deal. Who cares about one cookie or a messy closet?
Well, God does. God cares about your obedience. Even if you do not understand how your disobedience can affect other people, you should always do your best to always obey. God wants you to obey Him, your parents, your teachers, and other people that He has put in charge over you. You may not understand the results of your choices, but God does. Just like my mother was trying to protect me from the pain of falling off the bed, God wants to protect you from future trouble.
Being obedient is not always easy, but God wants to help you. Just ask Him! Pray this verse from the Psalms: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Psalm 143:10).
Dear God, thank You for dying for my disobedience so I wouldn’t have to. Please help me know You more. Teach me to obey You and my parents. In Jesus’s name, amen.