Articles
If Only . . . .
Years ago Dr. James Dobson published The Strong-Willed Child for parents with children of this temperament. A revised edition followed, The New Strong-Willed Child.
If there’s not a book called The Strong-Willed Adult, somebody needs to write one! On second thought, someone has. It’s the Bible, and God is the author.
Time and again, the Scriptures address this issue. In the two following passages note the stark contrast between the divine willingness to bless and the human unwillingness to receive the blessing.
“For thus said the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ BUT YOU WERE UNWILLING . . . . Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him” (Isa. 30:15, 18—emphasis added).
Jesus lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, AND YOU WERE NOT WILLING!”
These must be two of the saddest statements in the Bible: “But you were unwilling.” “And you were unwilling.”
If only they knew what they are forfeiting by their stubborn disbelief. If only they could see how eager God is to bless them.
If only . . . .
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.
