Training 

When I was a teacher in Manhattan, I would tell my students to jump when I said jump. Partly because they didn’t always come when I called, and partly because I wanted them to know my voice when it was serious. It was also easier than yelling over them. 

One day, when I was dismissing my students, one of them saw his grandmother waiting for him across the street. My rule was that adults had to come say hello to me, and I would release their child back to them. This prevented the kids from running off. That day, however, Josh saw his grandmother and took off running across the street. 

I saw him, and at the same time I saw a box truck barreling down the street. I yelled at the top of my lungs, “Josh! Stop!” And he obeyed immediately. I watched as the rear view mirror from the truck grazed inches away from his face. 

Some training prevents something from happening that is less than desirable. While we have to be careful about who and what we let influence us, we must be trained in following His commandments and learn His will. 

Discipleship leads us to the cross and how to overcome it when the box trucks of life come speeding towards us. I am grateful for the trials and tribulations that come my way, and I get the adventure to colabor with God to crush the head of my enemies. I am grateful for clearer discernment and to have new tools in my belt to jump when God says jump!