"OBEY them that have the rule over you"
(Heb. 13:77Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. (Hebrews 13:7)), is a word well suited to home life. The first instruction of the text refers to the pastors of our souls—those holy men whom God has set over His people to watch for their spiritual growth. But who watches over the souls of children like Christian parents? Who, like your father and mother, seeks forgiveness from God for your daily errors? As we think of this, we may safely take the text for our homes. You are the dearest objects of your parents' desire, and they trust they will give a joyful account of your obedience to Him when life is over.
We are addressing children who love the Lord, and who desire to please Him. Everyone who knows Christ as his Saviour, and God as his Father, desires to please God. We do not say that at times the Christian is not overcome of evil; but none the less it is true that in every Christian’s heart, whether the little child or the grownup man or woman, there dwells the wish to please God.
Obedience, to be of real value, must be cheerfully rendered. When my boy's mother bids him run an errand for her, and he walks very slowly, with an unwilling countenance, his obedience has lost its sweetness to her heart. You will remember the parable our Lord spake to the chief priests in the temple, who rendered God an outward but not a heart obedience. A father had two sons, whom he bade go and work in his vineyard. The elder said, "I will not," but afterward repented, and went. The younger said, "I go, sir," but never went at all. These were surly sons, and are a pattern to be shunned.
Whatever you do, avoid eye-service. This is a warning to boys and girls in school-life. A Christian child who openly says to him or to her who has rule over him, "I will do what you bid me," and then, when the ruler's back is turned, joins with others in dishonoring the one placed over them, is a mean-spirited child, and a shame to the name of Christ. Better be the sulky son, who said, "I will not," but afterward repented, than the deceitful son, who said, "I go, sir," but who never went.
If my boy cannot be trusted when my back is turned, I am truly ashamed of him. A faithful spirit is most careful to carryout the wishes of those he obeys when no eye is upon him. God looks into our hearts, and watches what goes on there, and in the heart the main-spring of obedience is to be found. Therefore, if Christ is dwelling in your heart by faith, that is, if you are thinking about Him and seeking His glory, you will find sweetness in doing what He did. “Take My yoke upon you," He says, "and learn of Me, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light." His yoke is obedience. Adam, the first man, was disobedient, and by his act of disobedience we became sinners; Christ came to this earth to do the Father's will; He obeyed and died for us upon the cross; and now the people, old and young, who belong to Christ, are called to obey God.
Our salvation flows from the willing obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, and the cheerful, bright spirit of the Christian flows from his walking as Christ walked. Seek, dear young friends, to put your will into the hand of the Lord who died for you.
Seek to say to Him, “Not my will, but Thine, Lord." Herein lies the secret of true Christian happiness. There will be many a little struggle in the heart over this we know, but God will give the victory, and every victory of faith redounds to the glory of God.