348. Which Part Didn’t You Understand?

“I took my car to Mike’s yesterday afternoon to have the oil changed,” Stan began.

“How’s Mike?” I asked.

“Good,” Stan replied.  “Same as ever.  Still loving country music.” 

Continuing, he said, “Just before Mike told me he was finished with the car, I was kind of listening to a song that was playing on Mike’s radio.  It was something about a woman telling a man that she just wanted to be left alone, asking him which part of ‘No’ he didn’t understand.”

“I know nothing about country music,” I responded, “so I will leave that to you.”

“After I got my car and was heading home,” Stan continued, “I kept thinking about that song and how it related to my walk with God.”

“Did you come to any conclusions?” I asked.

“I did,” Stan responded.  “At least two.  First, when God says ‘No’,” I am to accept that He means what He says.  Too often I will look for the fine print to see if He didn’t really mean what He said, or if there is a way for me to get around what He said. God does not want to have to ask me, ‘Which part of ‘No’ did you not understand?’.”

“Secondly,” Stan continued, “with a play on words, I think God wants me to clearly keep in mind the word “Go,” as in going into the whole world to make disciples.”

“What a sad day it will be if I hear God say, ‘I told you to go, and I did not give you permission to stay.  Which part did you not understand?’”

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If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  John 14:15.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.  Matthew 28:20.

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, that you make it clear what you do and do not want.  I confess that way too often I ignore what you say because I want to do what I want to do apart from you.  I ask for your forgiveness.  And I ask for your help in what I do and in what I don’t  do.  I want only to live a life of obedience.  I know you want the same thing for me.  I give you all of me for your molding, shaping, and transforming so that an obedient servant is what comes off of your potter’s wheel.  Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.