Commando

     Fortunately, this blog has nothing to do with "going commando", not wearing underwear.  It is about the suggestions found in the Bible.  There aren't any.  There are only commands.  Although a rational person might consider a "suggestion" from an almighty God to the creatures He has made about how to behave on the planet He has also made, to be obeyed as if it was a command, God knows we are not that rational, so He states what He wants from us clearly.  Even then we try to find some wiggle room, we think of them as suggestions or principles which we can choose to apply to our lives--or not.
     My awakening was about five years ago when I learned at BSF that the gospel is a command to be obeyed.  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" is more than a beautiful expression of God's love, it is a command, and the penalty for not obeying is severe.  But those of us who have already obeyed that one are not off the hook.  "Do not be afraid" is also a command.  God obviously understands how hard that is for us because He repeats it so many times, 365 according to some.  There must be some significance in that.  "Let not your heart be troubled" is also a command, and if we have a hard time doing that, imagine how hard it must have been for the disciples who were losing their friend and master to a horrible death and knew their lives were at risk as well.  We let our hearts be troubled over mud on the carpet, CNN, taxes and bad drivers.
     It is a dangerous thing to notice commands.  For instance, many married couples don't realize the command "Be fruitful and multiply" has never been rescinded.  This does not mean couples are commanded to have as many children as possible, relying on "divine birth control" but using existing medical technology for everything else, nor does it mean that couples unable to have children must adopt.  God blesses us in different ways.  It means that a couple cannot simply choose not to have children and be fully obedient to God, even if our culture approves it.
     I have this sneaking suspicion that if I traced the root of all the things I struggle with, I would find some command I have chosen to ignore. When the overflow of my heart spills out my mouth, what does it reveal about what I'm like beneath the surface?   Maybe I'm talking about underwear after all.