Coronado Island is an idyllic Southern California destination that attracts locals and tourists by the thousands each summer. One popular picnic spot is Spreckels Park, which boasts a sprawling swath of lush green grass, a gazebo, playground equipment, and towering shade trees. There is just one problem: the park is nestled in the center of the nearly 33-square-mile island, directly adjacent to the main thoroughfare and bordered by busy streets on all sides. On a recent outing, I spotted a towheaded toddler making a break for the sidewalk three times with his beleaguered parents trailing behind. Children can enjoy the time of their lives at the park, but there are dangers if they stray from their parent’s watchful eye.
Obedience is one of the earliest lessons in life that children must learn. And commands are one of the primary tools employed by parents to move their children in the right direction. Some situations allow time for asking questions, but a command is in order when there’s only ten feet between a child and a busy street. Hopefully, we bathe our instructions in love and encouragement, but that doesn’t change what a command is—the expressed will of an authority figure that comes with the expectation of prompt obedience.
As Christians, we have a similar responsibility to obey our Heavenly Father. After our spiritual rebirth and adoption into God’s family (John 3:3; Romans 8:14-17), it becomes our life’s work to live in a manner consistent with His priorities and commands. Those precepts provide a protective barrier between us and spiritual harm when we follow them. Sometimes the right choice isn’t immediately apparent, so we pray for God’s guidance to help us accomplish His will for our life. At other times, there are commands in Scripture that clearly express our Father’s will for our situation. We can always trust that His will for our life will agree with the precepts found in His Word.
The best way to establish godly priorities for our life is to comply with God’s checklist in Scripture. Following His will is so important that Jesus told His apostles to teach all His commands to every new Christian (Matthew 28:19-20). That may sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. God’s Word and His will are consistent. As we grow in grace and maturity, we begin to sense His will for our circumstances because of our close connection to His Word.
