My title is a quote from the movie Fireproof.
This morning at 4:30 am, I heard my not yet 2 year old scream from his bedroom, "NOOOO!". Then, I heard him thrashing around some in his bed. Then, silence. He had apparently dreamed something and verbalized his frustration outside his dream. This is an area where we are working with him now. He tends to want to exert his authority...Funny thing is, he doesn't have any.
As I was laying there wondering what I should do, I was overwhelmed with thoughts about the work I have at hand. No, not get up in the morning and drive to my place of employment kind of work, but the REAL work, the REAL life. Don't get me wrong, being at work is real...and I really try to work. But, rarely do the matters of the heart and life manifest themselves there. So, what work am I talking about?
Husband, Dad, Friend, Witness...
I am sure there should be an order to that list, but that's not what I am talking about now.
Each of these takes work. Fireproof did a great job in illustrating the work of not being selfish, the work of love, the work of commitment. If we become lazy in any of those areas, the other must pick up the slack lest the marriage go down the drain. It's actually a movie "worth" watching. Is the work worth it? Is it hard to serve?
I have posted in the past about "A little folding of the hands". Have you ever thought about the implications? Earlier when I was talking about my son, I was able to reason that he probably wasn't really mad at anybody that time of the day. But, it appears that his whole life right now is "Noooooo!". If I were to ignore his demands for correction, would I be being faithful? Isn't it interesting how it all ties together? The work that we have to do, (and do correctly) benefits the one we work for, which may be a blessing to the Lord as we are obedient, that may even come back to the worker...
So, if I get up (do the work) when my son is throwing a tantrum and chasten him (my work in raising a godly seed)..He is sad and I am sad...He eventually learns (Lord willing). But, that's not the end. As he grows, he understands that I am being faithful to the Lord as he is learning to be faithful and obedient to an earthly father. He understands honoring his father and his mother and does so. He comes to understand our faith and the work we did. He then listens to the real Father for the work He has for him. That blesses me.
Of course, doing it for the last sentence is the wrong reason and I don't think I do that. I would think that the primary reason I tend to do what I do is because I don't like the results that I have seen from those that didn't do that work. Although God's grace and mercy override EVERYTHING...jee whiz, I could go on for ever here....I'll move on.
Hebrews 12:4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”[a]7 If[b] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
I think that says it better anyway.
In any case, we have a work in every aspect of relationship....don't grow weary...just grow. (easier said than done, eh?)
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