No, Stop!

Wednesday, February 05, 2014 Posted by Unknown

“Shawn, no! Stop! Mommy will be right there.”

He was my firstborn, and I had a lot to learn about mothering. One of the first lessons the Lord taught me as a new believer was not to yell at my family (something I grew up with thinking was normal.) He taught me His gentle and loving ways. His word assured me, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My own. . . and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.” (John 10:11& 16)

I came to realize that love was not demanding, harsh, or loud. I could win the obedience of my children through kindness and safe boundaries. I also learned I needed to teach them to listen and recognize the tone of my voice—one that might need to speak out of earned authority. That’s what saved my two-year-old that day.

We had a long driveway, and our mailbox was across a quiet road. But, huge work trucks often sped along at 60 mph. And when I turned from pulling the mail out and faced my driveway, all I could do was scream, “STOP! STOP!” as I heard the whirl of the semi-truck race past my driveway and son. This was the appropriate time to yell.

How often does God try to warn us: Stop! Not yet. Don’t go!

It’s so important to know God’s word, so we can hear the voice of the Lord. While His loving kindness blankets us, His voice often warns us.

The writer of Hebrews exposes that shout of the Lord concerning salvation in Chapter 12: 25—26, “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. . . And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.’ “

He loves us, warns us, but never forces us. Thankfully, he continues to woe us with His promises.

“ ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.’ “ Rev. 3:20