When my kids were little I used to tell them, "no," just because I thought they needed to be told no sometimes. I used to tell them that it was so they'd better appreciate it when I told them "yes." Now I have a more biblical basis for the suffering I inflicted on them (although it wasn't much suffering, but still a denial of the flesh). 1 Peter 4:1-2 says that we should suffer in the flesh "so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
In today's society we're so focused on gratifying the flesh - the lusts of men - that we make living for the will of God an afterthought or something to be done on Sundays. Let us be willing to join in the fellowship of His suffering (Phil 3:10). Let us die to the flesh (Gal 2:20), no longer gratifying our selfish desires or demanding that we be constantly entertained. Rather, may we have Christ live in us and live for the will of God (Phil 4:2).
In today's society we're so focused on gratifying the flesh - the lusts of men - that we make living for the will of God an afterthought or something to be done on Sundays. Let us be willing to join in the fellowship of His suffering (Phil 3:10). Let us die to the flesh (Gal 2:20), no longer gratifying our selfish desires or demanding that we be constantly entertained. Rather, may we have Christ live in us and live for the will of God (Phil 4:2).
