Don't touch, it's hot!!!

In all aspects of life there are warnings: no diving in shallow end, stop, deer crossing, yield, railroad crossing, keep out, toxic, hot, do not plug in near water, dry clean only... and the list could go on. Each one could come across as a rule, but in reality they are warnings, trying to spare us grief.

Imagine with me a child. Mom just took some blueberry syrup off the stove and the stove top is still hot. Curiosity drives the child to want to touch that beautiful glowing red circle. The mother says "don't touch that, it's hot!"The child pulls away pouting, "why does mommy tell me I can't do this, I can't do that.. I can't put my fingers in the light socket, I can't blow dry my hair while standing in the bathtub, I can't eat raw potatoes, I can't jump out the second story window...I'm so fed up with rules". So, when mommie's back is turned, the rebellious little child reaches up to touch the stove again. Mommy turns around just in time, grabs their arm and maybe gives them a small swat and reminds them with stronger words, "DON'T TOUCH. IT'S HOT!" Why does the child persist? Does he not trust his mother's words? The mother set up the "rule" to protect her child because she loves him/her, she warned him, explained what hot was, punished him, but if the child persists... they may eventually get burned.

Is it possible that a similar situation happens with God, our Father? Could it be that He has warned us, pleaded with us, explained to us.... and yet we persist in our desire to break the "rules." Then why do we blame God when we get burned? If we stubbornly refuse to listen, what is He to do? He will never force us, so He has to let go. Can we not trust God's word when He says, "you play with sin, you will get burned." Why do we get so caught up with the "rules" that we miss the intent for the "rule" or warning - to save us grief.

For example, God gives us the warning that indulgence is bad to save us the grief of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure.... God cares about our health; God gives us the warning to only put into our minds that which is good to save us the grief of nightmares, behavior issues, fear, anger... God cares about our minds; God gives us warning to have just one wife/husband to save us the grief of heart break, discord, divorce.... God cares about our relationships.

Could it be that the 10 commandments are a guideline on what love is and the other "commands" are warnings to protect us from grief? I challenge people to look at the "rules" and see, what grief is God trying to spare them from? In Exodus 15:26 you see God saying this very thing, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." Listen to my commands, and you won't get sick like the Egyptians.

God loves us too much to see us get hurt. He's given us warnings to spare us grief. Father, help me to pay attention to those warnings and to realize how much you care about me.