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10 Minutes Peace
by Susan McGrath
My eleven-year-old son asked me the other day what the difference was between a command and a demand. I don't remember exactly what started the conversation, but I'm sure it involved complaints about unfair parental practices and ended with someone in time out!
I told him, only half jokingly, that a command is issued by someone in a position of authority, like a parent, who has the right to expect a directive to be followed. (Okay, I used words which were more kid-friendly, but you get the idea.) A demand, I explained, is something used by children or terrorists who are whining to get their way when they know they are wrong. Strangely, he didn't have a snappy come-back for my definitions.
The next day I was on the phone with a friend and he interrupted, telling me I had to do something or other. After reminding him he was being rude, I relayed my command/demand definitions to my friend and she was quite amused. I guess it's a mom thing. (She has a twelve-year-old boy.)
Just for fun, I decided I should see what God has to say about demands and commands. I was aware of many of the occurrences in scripture, but was surprised to find that there were only three occurences of the term demand or demands. Luke 6:30 says, "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back." This verse is followed by the "golden rule, "Do to others as you would have them do to you."
The term demands is found in Luke 12:20,48, which deal with the rich fool having his life demanded from him and those who have been given much having much demanded from them. Perhaps I was mistaken in my definitions. Perhaps demands belong to God, along with His commands. I don't know if I'm ready to share this revelation with my son yet, but I do want him to understand the importance of following God's commands. I also want him to understand that these commands come with promises. They are not random orders given to subordinates for the purpose of a power trip. God's commands are for our protection, education and purification - because He loves us. He promises us wonderful things when following His commands.
There are too many verses dealing with God's commands for me to mention here, but let me touch on a few. Of course, we are all familiar with the Ten Commandments - still very relevant for us today. How about this one from 1 John 4:21, though, " And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." Several other commands are given to love each other.
David repeatedly spoke of God's commands in Psalm 119, saying that he loved and delighted in the Lords' commands, that they made him wiser, and asking God to direct him in the path of these commands and not let him stray from them. I always get something from David's writings.
So many of the commands deal with love that it would be very difficult to miss the motive behind God's decrees: He loves us and wants us to express the same love to Him and to others.
Maybe that is the lesson for me this week, just to shower others with love (even my argumentative son) and see what God does with me.
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a recovering journalist trying to encourage others and glorify God through writing;
living the small-town life with husband Tim and sons Lincoln, 12, and Sawyer, 6;
completing a few put-off writing projects while using chocolate for therapy.
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