All parents have to tell their children, “No,” from time to time, and inevitably, the child will come back and ask again. I mean – “It’s been a whole two minutes – maybe Momma changed her mind!” When we get tired of the “asking,” Momma has been known to end up saying, “What part of ‘NO’ don’t you understand?”
I wonder if God feels that way towards His children at times. The very first commandment God gave unto Moses on Mt. Sinai was “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3) This same verse is repeated in Deuteronomy 5:7. The children of Israel didn’t heed this warning and transgressed before the Lord by setting up idols and worshiping them. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the other prophets warned God’s people of what would happen if they followed after the idols of men.
But what about us? Do we set up “idols” today? We might not erect statues, but we do set up idols when we put other things before God. God says for us to worship Him on the first day of the week. When we let ballgames, concerts, hunting season, and the river come before the Lord, I can just imagine God saying, “What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand?” He wants to come first in our lives. If we will turn to Him, He said “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14) There is hope, but we have to stop asking Him to change His mind. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon, (Matthew 6:24) – what part of “NO” don’t we understand? In the beginning of the Bible, God said, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2) In the middle of the Bible, God said, “Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar,” (Proverbs 30:6) and at the end of His Word, He once again reiterates ” For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19) God says, “No, you cannot change My Word to please yourself.”
I always heard, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.” But that is so wrong – it should be “God said it – That settles it!” It matters not what I think or believe. What part of “NO” don’t you understand? God Bless, Courtney
Very good—I read your poem at DAR this morning as part of my devotional!! Keep up the good work.
Glad it came in handy! Love!