On the first day of school, I give my students this speech: “I’m an amazing teacher. You hit the jackpot when you got me as a teacher. I’ve been doing this a long time and if you listen to me and do what I tell you, you will understand the math. You will prosper.”
Sounds arrogant? Perhaps. But, the truth is, especially for my AP students, I know what it takes to get a five on the AP exam. I am going to tell them to write things a certain way, not because I’m controlling but because I know what it takes to be successful on the test.
This morning, I read about David passing the torch to Solomon. David encouraged Solomon to “walk in the ways of the Lord, keep His Commandments and statues”. He exhorted his son that if he were obedient, he would be successful.
I have always looked at those statements in the Old Testament as a ‘quid pro quo’. Like God was saying if you do what I say, I will reward you with a blessing.
But maybe God’s heart when He asks us to do something is this, “I’m an amazing Father. I’ve been doing this for eternity. I’m not asking for obedience because I want to control you. But I see the beginning and the end. I know what it takes for you to be successful. I know what you are about to face. If you will obey my voice, stay in my word, fill your ears with worship, stay in community with believers, defeat your enemy with prayer, you will be equipped to take the test that is surely coming. You will prosper.
Obedience is not to earn God’s favor. Obedience is wisdom. Obedience is trusting that even though you don’t understand why, you trust God’s ways are higher than yours. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
It’s simple boys and girls, if you want to get a five (five is the highest grade on an AP exam and it demonstrates mastery) in this life, trusts God is a good teacher and Father and do what He says.
““I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’”
I Kings 2:2-4 NKJV