playing the role of james.

picture this: the beginnings of fall are in full force. you are at the same location where the picture from the previous post was snapped. it’s around 9:15 am on a beautiful sunday morning. seriously, there was not a cloud in the sky. you are enveloped by the trees as you notice the spark of change about to take place as their leaves begin to transform colors. you are seated on a bench feet from the waters edge wanting to read, but you are too distracted by the beauty of creation gifted to you. you can’t even formulate coherent thoughts. everything is just…a blur.

you are even more distracted by the interaction taking place about ten yards away as a father is having some bro-down time with his two year old son who, for the time being, will be named james. james is playing the role of a typical two year old boy in throwing rocks into the water, at various flying animals and even once at you, simply because you are large object and he thinks it’s funny. after 15 minutes of watching his son play, the bystander who also sometimes attempted at re-living his childhood by joining in the fun, james’ father, does not think this is actually all that enjoyable anymore. the dad patiently asks james to come walk with him so they can leave. his dad somehow expected james to leave the simple enjoyment he was experiencing to walk the rest of the trail around the lake with him. while james’ father now stands about 15 feet from his son waiting, james refuses. obviously, throwing rocks is a lot more appealing to the child than just walking around a large mass of water in the wilderness could ever be.

james’ father then notices a swirl of bees, a few feet away from his son, doing what bees do on some flowers by the waters edge. james’ father then realizes the bees are just another object in which james can use for target practice. he grasps the fact that…this is not good. he then urgently tells his son to leave and follow him. james again, refuses. this time his father yells to him to come along because if he stays he may get stung and that it is really going to hurt. once again…james denies his fathers advice.

the dad then briskly walks towards his son only to arrive about two seconds too late. crying and chaos then ensue. it was almost as if the bees heard everything the father was saying to his stubborn son and they wanted to add some comedic relief. however, the father, nor the son thought the bees were very funny.

the reaction of the dad is perfect. although he had just told his son exactly what was going to take place, he reaches down, picks up james for a bear hug, cradling the back of his head with his palm as they walk along the rest of the trail around the lake. the father continues to empathetically and lovingly encourage his son.

i can’t help but be moved to worship by this cheesy, yet truth bearing story God graciously  had allowed me to observe that one Sunday. is this not the exact picture God reveals to his children through scripture?

Proverbs 3:12 states, “for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” the father knew what would become of james if he continued to stand next to the bees and therefore he urgently pleaded with his son to leave the dangerous situation. he wanted to see james exert discipline in obediently responding to his commands. james, a perfect picture of my life on a daily basis, decided to worship his control over the situation and apathetically ignore his fathers instructions. james then suffered the consequences of the ill fruit his actions produced. however, most would expect a father who is disappointed and frustrated because of the deliberate disobedience directed toward him by his son. yet, we see a father who comforts his son during anguish. God has given us “eternal comfort and good hope through grace” (2 thess. 2:16). God does not look down upon his children in shameful disgrace during their calamity, yet he looks to our advocate Jesus Christ who has presented us “holy, blameless, and above reproach before God” (colossians 1:22). when we are in a situation where we begin to take control and play the role of james rather than listening to our Heavenly Fathers guidance and discipline, we get hurt. not because God wants to see us in pain. He hurts with us. He gave His life for us so that we can experience one day a life that pain is unknown in (revelation 21: 4). when we are injured physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually because of some action we did that defies Gods desired direction in our lives and we come to him on our face in humble repentance, he’s waiting with open arms. the discipline carried out by the compassionate and loving God we serve is enveloped with grace and must be received with humility and produce dependency upon the Holy Spirit in which is the only place we can find the strength we need to persevere through discipline.

therefore, i want to encourage you with the knowledge that God is in control. He knows what’s best for you. regardless of your circumstance, whether it be times of painful affliction (like james experienced) or abundant reward, the best for you is conformity to Christ, humbly submitting to the authority God has over your lifer. God’s greatest desire in disciplining His children is that we look more like Jesus. david platt says, “we are not placed in situations based upon our ablilities, but in order to move us to more radical dependence upon God.” when we do disobey God when he is disciplining us (like james disobeyed his father), he will graciously forgive as we humbly repent.

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