How important is it to obey the things that we are asked to do by our parents or those who care about us? Maybe we think they do not know best. Maybe we think they do not want us to have any fun. Perhaps we think they try to hold us back. And how important is it to obey the words of our God? Very! In the days of Jeremiah there was a group of people known as the Rechabites. Hear what these people told Jeremiah when he tried to get them to drink wine: “We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, not to drink wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons or our daughters, 9 nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; and we do not have vineyard or field or seed. 10 “We have only dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and have done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.” Jeremiah 35:8-10 (NASB) Isn’t that amazing? They had only done what Jonadab, their father had told them. Don’t we all wish we could say that of our families? Wouldn’t we like for all of them to do all that we ask of them? After these words were spoken Jeremiah was instructed to go talk to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. These were the words God spoke: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction by listening to My words?” declares the Lord. 14 “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are observed. So they do not drink wine to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again; yet you have not listened to Me.” Jeremiah 35:13-14 (NASB) It was right for the people to listen to their fathers and not do those things that would harm them. They had obeyed that without ever doubting that they should obey it. And yet, they would not listen to their God. What about us today? Are we willing to listen and follow the directions of those around us but then ignore the words of God? We need to listen to both. We need to follow God in all of His ways that we may prosper in this life and live with Him in the next. So how are you doing? Do you listen to your boss, parents, teachers etc. and God. How blessed you are! How important is it to obey the things that we are asked to do by our parents or those who care about us? Maybe we think they do not know best. Maybe we think they do not want us to have any fun. Perhaps we think they try to hold us back. And how important is it to obey the words of our God? Very! In the days of Jeremiah there was a group of people known as the Rechabites. Hear what these people told Jeremiah when he tried to get them to drink wine: “We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, not to drink wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons or our daughters, 9 nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; and we do not have vineyard or field or seed. 10 “We have only dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and have done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.” Jeremiah 35:8-10 (NASB) Isn’t that amazing? They had only done what Jonadab, their father had told them. Don’t we all wish we could say that of our families? Wouldn’t we like for all of them to do all that we ask of them? After these words were spoken Jeremiah was instructed to go talk to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. These were the words God spoke: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction by listening to My words?” declares the Lord. 14 “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are observed. So they do not drink wine to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again; yet you have not listened to Me.” Jeremiah 35:13-14 (NASB) It was right for the people to listen to their fathers and not do those things that would harm them. They had obeyed that without ever doubting that they should obey it. And yet, they would not listen to their God. What about us today? Are we willing to listen and follow the directions of those around us but then ignore the words of God? We need to listen to both. We need to follow God in all of His ways that we may prosper in this life and live with Him in the next. So how are you doing? Do you listen to your boss, parents, teachers etc. and God. How blessed you are!