MAY 5,  Hebrews 13:17

“I’m tired of getting preached at,” complained Matt. “Everywhere I go, I hear, Do this; don’t do that. Love your brother; obey your mother. Pray every day; watch what you say.’” He chuckled. “I’m a poet as I can make these sentences rhyme, and didn’t even know it.” “Yes, well, those certainly are inspiring rhymes,” teased Dad with a grin, “but please remember that God gives you parents and teachers and pastors to help you.”

Matt shrugged. “Maybe so, but my teachers and Pastor aren’t perfect, either.” He grinned and quickly added jokingly, “Of course, you and Mom are, but why should all those other people always tell everyone how to live?”

“They’re simply God’s messengers, reminding us of His laws,” replied Dad. “Well, I don’t like messengers!” declared Matt. He jumped to his feet. “I’m going to see if Uncle Lim has any work for me.” Uncle Lim owned a nearby ice cream shop and sometimes paid Matt to do odd jobs.

When Matt returned home that afternoon, he was quite annoyed. “Uncle Lim sent me to the hardware store down the street to return some stuff he didn’t need,” Matt reported. “The clerk there scolded me because, according to her, Uncle Lim always buys stuff and then returns it.

Dad smiled. “All that just for giving her Uncle Lim’s message, right? You were his messenger.” “Exactly!” Matt scowled. “So why yell at me?”

“Well, I guess she doesn’t like messengers,” Dad said calmly. “You don’t, either, as I recall, so she must be just like you.” Dad paused, then added, “If you don’t like the messages from God that your parents or pastor and teachers give, shouldn’t you complain to God, not to me or to them?”

Matt didn’t know what to say. “I… I don’t want to do that,” he mumbled. “Think about the reason you don’t like their messages,” suggested Dad. “Is it because the Holy Spirit is convicting you of some sin in your life?” “I don’t know. I… I guess it might be,” admitted Matt. “I’ll try to think about that more often.”

Thought: Does it make you angry when God’s message applies to you? Do you wish pastors and teachers—perhaps even parents—would leave you alone?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s lesson that those in authority are simply messengers, ministers to me for good. Help me to listen to what they say, and to appreciate them. When they bring me Your message, help me to be sure to obey, and don’t get angry and grumble at the messenger. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.