Monday, January 28, 2019


Literally?!
By Susan Klein

 “Now, all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

While visiting a friend with two toddlers, I watched her older toddler push the younger one down. She encouraged him to say, “I’m sorry,” and then give his brother a hug. He obediently and immediately followed both instructions. She then recalled a time that he had toppled his brother on the kitchen floor. She had wisely instructed him to not push his brother down on the bare floor because it could hurt, as evidenced by his cries. Not long after, she heard her one-year-old whimpering in the carpeted living room. Her older toddler was quick to announce, “I didn’t push him down on the kitchen floor, and I said ‘I’m sorry’ and hugged him!”

The literal interpretation of her message had been followed to a “T,” but the behavior was still amiss.

As adults, how often do we repeat this very behavior with our heavenly Father? He might instruct us to show kindness to a difficult person. And then we do it - - once - - out of obedience. Then we walk away feeling justified and do our best to avoid any further contact with that hard-to-love person. Or maybe God is convicting us about our own negative attitude? We decide to make an extra effort to be more positive and grateful. We’re intentional in front of others, but at home we are quick to verbally let loose with our irritations and displeasures. Our inner-toddlers come out!

One of God’s commands is: “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4). I can honestly say I’ve never literally carved an image or made a statue to worship. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that there have been times in my life when I’ve figuratively made idols out of things. Anytime I’ve placed more importance on people or things than on God, I’ve made an idol. Thankfully, He has been paternal in pointing these out to me.

There really is just one instruction we need to heed literally: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” and, “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39b). Not just sometimes, not just select people, not just when the mood strikes us…always. If we take a “literal” approach to following this one command, it will encompass all others.


GOING DEEPER:
1. Spend time with your Father asking Him to show you any “literal” behaviors that might need adjusting.

FURTHER READING:

Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.