GOD'S WAYS vs MY WAYS

GOD'S WAYS vs MY WAYS
Our son recently told us that he and our grandson Conner had received a similar gift for Chris tmas. When he went to use his gift, it was missing from the place he thought it was supposed to be. He went to his son's room and retrieved "his" gift and let Conner know that he was very unhappy that he had taken his gift. He then exhorted him not to lie when Conner denied having taken his dad's gift. Later our son came across his gift exactly where he had remembered leaving it and really felt humbled. He went to Conner and asked his forgiveness for his wrong judgment. I felt deep gratitude that our son was able to humble himself in this way. Our grandson loved his dad for it.
Often God's ways go against our natural inclinations. However, when we obey anyway we reap the benefits of doing things His way.
God said, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts". (Isaiah 55:9)
In Matthew 5 we are told to seek forgiveness for a small offense from those who have hurt us in much greater ways. A son who was deeply hurt by his father went and asked his father to forgive him for not having a loving attitude toward him. To his surprise his father began to weep and asked his son to forgive him for all the ways he had hurt him over the years. Not long after, the father became a Christian.
Our natural way would be to retaliate with some disrespect to try to humiliate the person who is hurtful to us. Our ways tend to put even greater distance between the very relationships that we need the most. God's ways are more difficult in the beginning but His way is always the "higher way".
Our way says the one with the greatest offence should make the first move to be restored. God's way says the one who is most spiritual should take the initiative to be reconciled. That is exactly what Christ did for us when we had no desire or even the ability to do so on our own. God's ways just can't be improved on!
Let's demonstrate our trust in Christ by obeying His commands even if we don't understand His reasons for them.
Selah....Al Yoder