Choice or Command?

Choice or Command?
by Heather Collver

Ever since I was born I have wanted to do my own thing. I think we are all that way. Most of us learn somewhere along the way that there is a tier of authority in our lives. As we grow we recognize those who are responsible for our well being and we listen to them for the most part. Many times we even test them to see if they are truly in the role of authority in our lives. We trust them to teach us from right and wrong.

Although I did not know who my father was until I was 13, I had a good idea of what a real father looked like. Between the ages of 5 and 13, I had a father figure in my life. More times than not, he showed me love and he corrected my behavior. Many times he taught me right from wrong. That is what made my search for my own father so painful, I knew that everyone deserved a loving father, but couldn't find him.

I believe we are also born with a sense other than sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. It is such a sensitive sense that many times life can work towards destroying it or hindering it. It is that deep sense that we were all created by the same being. That there is a bigger purpose in this world and that we are to abide by the commands of the ultimate authority of this world. There has to be one in control.

I remember when I first started this relationship with God, my father. I had so many people speaking life into me that it was a bit confusing at times. As I matured in my faith, I heard some people say that the Old Testament was all about commands and the New wiped it all clean. It never really settled well in my soul and that sense, it began to nudge me that I needed to follow the commands set forth in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.

So then I think to myself is this supposed to be a command or a choice. Are we supposed to forget the wisdom in the Old Testament or is it direction that we should go? Is it a choice?

Anyway, I read further and find that there are many incredible verses in both the Old and New Testaments that appear to command us that we must take care of the Widows and the Orphans.

Exodus 22:22-24
22“You must not exploit a widow or an orphan. 23 If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry. 24 My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.

James 1:27
27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

The choice is up to you. You can learn the commands in the Bible and choose to follow them or you can pick and choose. The greatest thing about this is that we all do that from time to time. So I am no different from anyone else. Now that I have learned what the Lord has requested from me, I cannot walk away from it. The sense inside of me tells me to go and to do something about it and when I see the widows and the orphans being treated badly, I feel a deep sense of obligation to lend a hand, to do what I can to reflect the father they are looking for so that I can point them towards God, give them some direction.

What will you do?

Dear Lord, I pray that there are many amongst us who will fight for those who are weak and lacking the Father in their lives. May we be a reflection of your great love and generosity. May we share the gift of life and adoption with every one we know. May we truly treat those who are physically without a Father or a Mother or a spouse as you created them, equal to us. Will you be glorified as those lost sheep return to you.

Please continue to pray for JoAnne A. this week. Thank you.