Following Instructions~

Greetings,

When I was in eighth grade my Earth Science teacher, Mr. Blackerby, was notorious for messing with our impressionable teenage minds.  His tests would often either be all "true" answers or all "false" answers, and lest anyone in first period spread rumors that the answers  that day were all "true," subsequent periods would get tests where the answers were all "false."  More than once I would see students turning in their papers early only to get a big fat ZERO!

But by far and away the best trickery Mr. Blackerby ever pulled off was the "Follow the Instructions" exam.  He handed out the tests, and the very first directive was: Place your name in the top right hand corner,  and please read every single question before you start answering.

Some of us did not follow the instructions, like myself, for example, and started answering the questions right away.  What was the point of wasting time? How sad for me to get to the end of the test and read: This test was a test of your instruction-following ability.  Do not answer any questions. Hand in your blank paper to receive a 100%. 

Ouch and dang and rats and MOAN!

Now I know better and am happy to report that following instructions can save us a lot of aggravation. 

Proverbs 13:13 "Whoever scorns instructions will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded."

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We would rather be rewarded for doing things Your way then pay a price for doing things our way.  If You ask us to forgive, love our neighbor, deal honestly with others, work hard, fight the good fight of faith, keep our souls pure from the lusts of this world, etc...it's because it will lead to peace and happiness.  Help us respect all your life-giving commands.  In Jesus' name, Amen.