If.. Then..

I take pleasure in rewarding my children when they obey and do well.

Whether they behave good at home or at school, I recognize their obedience, effort, and good behaviors.

One morning before I dropped my children off at school, I made a deal with my son, Kyzer. The deal was that IF he behaved, obeyed his teachers, and completed his work, THEN I would reward him with his favorite restaurant meal and playtime on his Pac-man game.

The deal was understood and agreed by the both of us.

I later found out that he did not fulfill his end of the deal.

That afternoon, when he arrived home from school, he begged and cried for his “reward” that he did not earn because he refused to do his part.

This made me think of how I have, so many times in the past, failed to do my part, yet still expected God to bless me and/or fulfill His promises in my life.

Yet, He still fulfilled His end of the deal because of His great love, goodness, and faithfulness.

But the truth is, that’s not fair.

It’s not fair for me to KNOW what I was expected to do, fail to do it, and yet still expect God to fulfill His promises in my life.

As a child of God, a disciple of Christ, and a light in the world, it is important that I fulfill what I am to do because it glorifies and pleases God, works for my good, and show others how to live in righteousness, holiness, and submission and obedience to God the Father.

Therefore, if Father God is faithful in fulfilling His promises in our lives, then we, too, ought to be faithful in doing what He commands us to do and be.

"My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
 turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
 indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
 and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God."

Proverbs 2:1-5 NIV