Simple Commands For God's Children

The Bible is filled with commands that are intended to graciously direct our lives according to God’s wisdom. You would have trouble turning to a page in your Bible that does not contain some type of imperative for you to obey. In the midst of all these divine directives, it is worth noting some of the most common commands in the Bible. In particular, three of the most common commands in the Bible are wait, don’t be afraid, and listen. In one form or another we find these three instructions all throughout God’s word.

The Lord often commands his people to wait on him:

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14, ESV)

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:7, ESV)

The Lord often commands his people not to fear:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

“You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life. You have seen the wrong done to me, O Lord; judge my cause.” (Lamentations 3:57–59, ESV)

The Lord often commands his people to listen to him:

“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:1–2, ESV)

“Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” (Psalm 34:11, ESV)

Isn’t it interesting that three of the Lord’s most common instructions for us are also three of the most common exhortations that we give to our children?

If you are a parent how many times do you think you have instructed your kids to wait, don’t be afraid, or listen? The fact that the Lord is so patient to keep reminding us of these truths should help beleaguered parents to patiently persevere in the shepherding of their children. But more than that, it should remind us all that we are children in the Kingdom of God (Matt 18:2-5).

Like children, we are totally dependent and we need constant direction. Thankfully our Heavenly Father loves to welcome children like us into his kingdom through his own Son, Jesus Christ. And he gently guides us in his kingdom with his gracious commands—like wait, don’t be afraid, and listen. At the heart of these commands, along with every other imperative in Scripture, is the need to trust in the Lord.

Through God's word our Creator constantly reminds us that we need to trust in him as our Heavenly Father:

• We don't need to take matters into our own hands or become impatient; we can wait on the Lord because we can trust in the Lord.

  
  

• We don't have to needlessly fear and fret; we can take courage in our circumstances because we can trust in the Lord.

  
  

• We don't have to search for our own answers; we can listen to what God has said in his word because we can trust in the Lord.

The Lord is so kind to graciously hold the hands of his children, and he does this primarily through the gracious instructions that he has provided in his Word.