Christian Reflection and Prayer

Have You Embarrassed Your
Heavenly Father?

"Such people claim they know
God, but they deny him by the
way they live."
Titus 1:16 NLT

Embarrassing God

"Not so long ago I saw a man
shopping in a grocery store while
his young son ran up and down the
aisles. The boy was unleashed and
hyper, making a complete nuisance
of himself. The father kept calling his
son's name, but the boy only ran
faster—up one aisle and down the other.

Just as the father caught up with him,
the boy reached out and grabbed a
handful of candy bars. The father tried
to take them away, but the boy held
on tightly. Then he started to scream.
It was a high-pitched, piercing scream
that reverberated throughout the store.
Clerks and customers turned to look
from every direction as the frustrated
father tried his best to squelch his
son's cries. The boy only screamed
louder and started to kick. Finally the
father let him go, and once again he
ran down the aisle with all his might,
chocolate still clutched in his greedy
little grip.

I caught a glimpse of the father's face.
It was the look of complete and total
embarrassment. Although I'm sure he
loved his son dearly, at this moment
he was ashamed to be his father.

Do you think God ever feels that way
with his children? Imagine how he must
feel when we become so earthly minded
that we run through life, ignoring his
voice and oblivious to his warning,
grabbing things as we go and holding
them tightly.

Do you think God doesn't get embarrassed
by the way his children act? Our life is a
reflection of his authority. And when we
disobey, he is the One the world scoffs at.

from Embracing Eternity by Tim LaHaye,
Jerry B. Jenkins and Frank M. Martin (Tyndale) p 148