"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
- John 14:15

I cannot think of anything that I disliked more.

When I was around 10 - 11 years old, the one thing that  I absolutely did not like to do during my summer break  from school was...

...mowing the yard.

I just did not enjoy pushing that vibrating, stinking metal  contraption across our yard out in the 100 degree heat.   Now, our yard was just an average size yard, but it  seemed to be about 50 acres or so as I pushed the lawn  mower over ever inch of it.

So, why did I mow the yard, if I disliked it so greatly?

Dad told me to do it.

And dad was the boss.

And I obeyed him because it was my duty to do so.

So, mumbling and grumbling and complaining, I mowed  the lawn about twice a month during those summer  vacations, basically just to get my dad off of my back.

But then, when I was about sixteen, something strange  and wonderful happened.  (No, we didn't move into an  apartment WITHOUT a yard! ;-)  

I remember coming home from visiting my friends and  as I walked into the kitchen to get some ice water, I  happened to look out the kitchen window into the back  yard.  My dad was out there in the 100 degree heat, his  face beet red, dripping with sweat as he pushed the lawn  mower over the tall grass.

And I just stood there watching him for a few minutes  and something began to stir in me.  I began to think about  how great a dad I had.  Here was the man who had been  to every baseball game I had ever played in.  He was  always there for me. This was the man who worked hard  every week to provide for me and my sister.  He made a  great many sacrifices along the way.  As I continued to  watch for just a minute longer, memories and scenes  flooded my mind as I saw how he had poured out his love 
for me over the years.

And then, I did something I never had done before.  I  walked outside, into the 100 degree heat,  walked over to  where my dad was, and I placed my hands on the lawn  mower and said...

..."You go rest, dad.  I'll finish up."

I'll never forget what my father said that day.  His words simply said, "Thanks, son."  But, his face, his face said  much more.  The smile that spread across his face said,  "I'm proud of you son."  It said, "Well done, my son."  I'm  telling you the look on his face sounded in my ears like the applause of a stadium full of excited fans.

And so, I mowed the yard that day.  Why?

Because I knew dad wanted me to.

And dad was my hero.

And I did it because I loved him.

My friend, there are two kinds of Christians.  First, there  are those that obey their Heavenly Father out of duty.   Hey, God's the boss, right?  And so, mumbling and  grumbling and complaining, they go through the motions,  just to get Him off of their backs.  

Then, there are those that obey their Heavenly Father  for a different reason.  You see, one day while looking  through the window of their heart, they saw God at work in  the back yard of their life.  They saw the Father who is  always there for them.  They saw the One who provides  for them and made so many sacrifices for them.  Yes, their  minds were flooded with memories and scenes of all of the  multitudes of ways that God has shown His great love to  them through the years.

And they obey because they know their Father wants  them to.

And the Father is their hero.

And they do it because they love Him.

They long so greatly just to hear His voice whisper to  their hearts, "Well done.  Well done my good and faithful  servant.  I'm proud of you."

This morning, dear Christian, how's your relationship  with the Father?    Are you mumbling, grumbling and  complaining as you go through the motions?  Or, have you  gotten a real glimpse of the Father?

Why do you obey...

Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!