Vows

It's hard to see God's ways. My mom always tells me that I don't understand how a parent sees the child. And of course that's the case - I'm not a parent! Just as much as I don't understand my parents when they tell me things I don't want to hear, when God has his way in my life and imposes things that are out of my control, I just don't get it. But when it comes to God and me, though I've heard enough that I'm a child of God, there's something different about Him from my earthly parents. When God tells me, in whatever way that He chooses to tell me, my obedience occurs at a deeper level. (Regardless of how much I rebel.)

I guess making a vow to God is something very serious. Like, walking up to the altar at an altar call. Or getting baptized. I'm not an altar call-kinda person, but still I've made plenty of vows before. Knowing human beings, there's no way God can expect us to be perfect in loving him with all of our hearts and minds... though I wish that were true. But God still wants us to be committed to him. From God's perspective, maybe it's like having a girlfriend/boyfriend who keeps breaking up with you but keeps coming back, and you're just a fine lad with infinite amount of patience and love to be able to tolerate such act of indecency. But I know it's good to be having a relationship with God, and that's really what I want for my life. God loved the Israelites, even though they turned their backs on God numerous times. Hosea was committed to a prostitute who kept running away. Jesus loved his disciples even when they seemed to betray him.