The first most obvious answer to this question is that it will keep them safe.  A parent normally makes rules in order to achieve a positive outcome, most notably, a child’s physical safety, but also their emotional and spiritual safety too. Generally, a child who listens to their well-intentioned parents will get into fewer scrapes than one who doesn’t. 

Second, training in obedience teaches a child that there are other people out there who they can learn from. To obey means to humble yourself to the authority of another. ‘Obey’ and ‘authority’ can come across as strong overbearing words, but in the proper context of good intention and godly standards, they have a deeper meaning and strength. It is a gift, in fact, to teach a child that there is always more to learn, and that there are people out there who can answer questions and have knowledge and experience to impart. A child or young person who learns to humble themselves early on will be open to learning throughout their life; they will know when to ask for help, and they will have the strength of character to put aside their own pride in order to submit to the experience of another. 

Essentially, obedience is a means to strengthen and grow characteristics in a child that will benefit them way into adult life. 

It has to be said, obedience and wisdom go hand in hand. Just as much as obeying well-intentioned and godly people will bring reward, choosing to follow and obey sin and ungodliness has the opposite effect. The truth is, we will always be in submission to something (whether it feels like it or not). Throughout our lives we must submit to parents, educators, leaders, evidence, the laws of the land, ideals, and practices. However, we do have the choice. 

In the Bible, God has given us a standard and a choice. Wisdom is gained by using the Bible as a tool to measure what is right and wrong, what is godly and what is ungodly. THROUGH wisdom we can learn to discern who or what we should submit to. Ultimately, it is this, submit to God and godliness, and reject sin and sinfulness. 

By informing children about the authority and love of God, we are teaching them to submit to and obey Someone who will NEVER let them down and Someone who will teach them and lead them in righteousness and love. 

Parents fail, laws fail, educators and leaders fail, but God never fails. 

By learning about obedience through the Bible, a child is learning about a characteristic that is recommended by a loving, all-encompassing, infinite God. When obedience is learned through the eyes of God, it becomes a pathway to success and true joy, rather than a tool that is used to force you to submit to the whims and fancies of the powerful. 

In conclusion, here are some verses to encourage you as you teach your children about the rewards and benefits of godly obedience: 

Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. 

1 John 3:24 

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. 

John 8:51 

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 

Exodus 19:5 

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 

Hebrews 13:17 

Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time. 

Deuteronomy 4: 39-40 

For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 

John 13: 15-17 

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 

To be kind, generous, honest, courageous—these are things many aspire to, whether they are followers of Christ, or not. 

Obedience though…obedience doesn’t have that same attraction.  

At first glance, obedience looks like the opposite of what we want to be as humans—free, independent, able to make our own decisions and live our own lives. But, if you look closer, you see that obedience to God doesn’t steal your destiny from you; it actually assists you in achieving it. 

How was Jesus obedient, and how do we apply that in our lives? 

Well, Jesus was obedient to death (Philippians 2:8). 

Imagine being obedient to God, even though it means dying a terrible and shameful death. It doesn’t sound very appealing. However, in order to understand the significance of obedience, we have to look at the whole perspective: 

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. – Romans 5:19 

Because Jesus chose to obey God and die on the cross, the path has been opened for all to be saved from the penalty of disobedience. 

If we look even closer at the events after the death of Jesus, we see His resurrection and entry into glory, by which His death on the cross pales in comparison. His murder, an ugly act of great injustice, was the catalyst of what is the greatest miracle of all—eternal life through Christ for all who reach for it. 

Well, in one sense… yes, He does.  

We are all sinners; we have acted wrongly, against the will of God; we have hurt one another; we have been malicious, jealous, angry, unforgiving. Yet, because Jesus obeyed God, took our sins upon Himself, and died in our stead, we have been given an invitation to repent and walk under the banner of His righteousness, forgiven. 

God calls us to repent, to fall at His feet and ask for His forgiveness. Our first act of obedience to God is to obey this call to repentance. And when we do, the sinful past self is dead, and a new person in Christ is born. To obey God is to die to sin and live renewed in His righteousness. 

But obedience doesn’t stop at the point of salvation. As Christians, we are called to obey. We must humble ourselves and be willing to serve. And yes, it’s really hard. 

But remember to look at the bigger picture. 

When you feel persecuted because of your choice to follow Christ, remember that you are loved, that you have been found, you are safe, you will be with Him in heaven. That your obedience to Him will make you stronger in faith, full of the Holy Spirit, and a partaker in His glory.  Your obedience is a catalyst for miracles, just like it was for Jesus. He is the benchmark that we must aspire to. 

Even Jesus prayed for relief in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-44) – 

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”  And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”  And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.  So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 

Imagine being so upset and so alone, not being supported or understood by your closest friends at your greatest moment of need, knowing that a gruesome and painful death was ahead. It’s not surprising that Jesus asked God for a way out. 

Yet, He still obeyed. He still did what had to be done. And He did it because He loved us. He did it because of the bigger picture. Because He knew the ultimate result of obedience to God is not death, but life. 

Throughout the New Testament, Christ gives us many commandments to obey, but He does narrow it down for us in Matthew 26:36-40: 

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

It all comes down to loving God and loving others. By doing these things, we are obeying God. 

So, as you go ahead with your day, remember to live in obedience to Him and watch and see as He uses your actions to bring life and restoration to all those around you. 

Wow! Can you believe it is already March? 2020 forced everyone to slow down, but this year feels like the days are just passing by so quickly! Despite lockdowns, lives seem busier than ever. There are so many things going on—the world events, juggling your schedule with work and family under the same roof, uncertainties in the current economic state, new variants of the virus, and the list can go on and on. This is the time we must seek peace intently in every moment. Not just for our own well-being but also for us to bring peace and light in this chaotic world. 

In Luke 10:38-42, the story of Martha and Mary gives us a lesson about seeking peace by choosing our priorities. 

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”  

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” 

Often, we can relate to Martha. She was so distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. This did not really make her bad, because she just wanted to be a great host. She just wanted the best, at least what she thought was the best, but Jesus preferred otherwise. 

Our minds can be so caught up with all the things that need to be done. We think about our children’s schoolwork, our own work, our daily meal, the Covid situation, our health, our loved ones’ well-being, our future and so on.  And those are important—but Jesus said in Luke 10:41:

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” 

In the Passion Translation (TPT), it says:  

The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.” 

Jesus called Martha twice. That is significant because He was calling to her attention. What if Jesus just wanted Martha to open the door to let Him in? And like Martha, what if Jesus is calling you today just to pause for a minute and just sit by His feet? When you sit by Jesus’ feet, peace comes—the peace that surpasses all understanding. He is the Prince of Peace after all (Isaiah 9:6).  

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7 

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. - Isaiah 26:3  

When we hear the word ‘rest’, we usually think, “I would love to, but I don’t have the time” or it could be that we have a mindset of ‘rest is for the weak’. Whatever you think about this, rest is important! We must find pockets of rest during the week and not wait for Saturday or Sunday to come before we decide to rest.  

Rest might look different to everyone. Some might find rest when they sleep, some go for a run, some spend intentional time with loved ones, some bake… whatever rest looks like for you, take it. This is good for you. Just take note, the rest that sustains you long term is deeper than these activities. You find that rest in God. 

Psalm 23: 1-3 (NLT):

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 

When we let the peace of God come in our lives, rest follows. We are welcome to rest in Him. Instead of worry and doubt, there is rest. Instead of chaos, there is rest. Choose to rest. 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com. 

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

Scriptures marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible Classic, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) 

There are so many studies on how to improve productivity. Methodology, environment, and time of day all contribute to enhancing a productive day. People often see diligence as the act of being productive, but it is so much more than just crossing off everything on your daily list. 

To be diligent means that you have conviction to not only DO your work/goals/chores, but to do them with care and conscientiousness. 

It takes not only looking at the benefits of doing a good job for yourself, but also for others. It integrates timekeeping and quality work and finds a good balance between the two. Diligence causes a person to have forward thinking--“How can I do my work in a way today that will make improvements for tomorrow?” 

Diligent people can be trusted to do their work to a high standard with integrity, but it does come with a cost to that person. Being diligent is EXHAUSTING.  

You wake up for your alarm, then get out of bed promptly (even though you are PARTICULARLY cosy in bed and it would be nice to have 5 more minutes). You make your bed, so it will be ready for bedtime later (and so mum won’t have to do it). You get changed and thoroughly brush your teeth (all 32 of them) because you want healthy teeth for the rest of your life. You have a nutritious breakfast (and wash up your dishes), then sit down for a time of prayer and devotion before you start your schooling, which you complete without being distracted, in your best handwriting, reading all the questions thoroughly in order to answer them properly. 

Well, it’s only the morning, and it already feels like A LOT of work has been done to the best of your ability – It almost feels like you, the diligent student, could reward yourself with an afternoon nap. Right? 

WRONG. There will be afternoon lessons, and helping mum and dad, and lots of opportunities to be conscientious about everything before heading back to bed for 8 hours of sleep in order to be ready for another day of diligent work. 

Why? Because students have to LEARN to be diligent. They have to understand the benefits of it at a personal level. They have to see examples of diligence around them. They have to DESIRE to be that way themselves. 

It’s even harder in recent years for young people to practice diligence. We live in a ‘copy and paste’ world. There are shortcuts for everything. Sometimes these shortcuts are BRILLIANT. They make work more efficient and productive. But on the flip side, shortcuts mean that people aren’t using their skills and intuition in ways that they might have before. Shortcuts create an illusion that things can be gained quickly, but with the same quality. Young people are so used to shortcuts that when they try something and it doesn’t work out instantly, they feel like they have failed. 

In a world of shortcuts, DILIGENCE will be the key for this generation of students. It will give them the edge. A student who has learned diligence will not give up when they fail the first time. They will try until they understand how to get it right. 

This is why it is SO important to acknowledge diligence when we see it in our children and students. They may not make their bed or wash the dishes all the time, but when they do it – thank them; tell them you appreciate it when they do something that helps you out. Recognise them when you can see that they have tried hard to learn their schoolwork or have made an effort to write neatly.  

Being diligent is not easy. NOT AT ALL. To be TRULY diligent takes strength of character and some sacrifice. Unrecognised diligence is probably one of the most discouraging and, ultimately, tragic things, because if left unchecked, it can cause a person not to want to bother any more.  

If you are someone with children or students, it is your responsibility to reward diligence when you see it. Whether that reward comes verbally, in the form of a gift, or more recreation is up to you – be diligent in acknowledging that same trait in your students. 

The Bible is very clear on the benefits of diligence. Read the verses below:

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. - Proverbs 13:4

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. -  Proverbs 10:4

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. -  Galatians 6:9

Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. - Proverbs 22:29

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. - 2 Peter 1:10

How great it would be if all our students, children, and loved ones could practice diligence and reap the benefits in their schoolwork, personal lives, and future careers. We can help that be a reality by recognising and rewarding it when we see it. 

Have there been any occasions recently when you’ve noticed a student practising diligence? How did you reward it?