You Changed the Rules!

My little buddy, Ethan, taught me another profound truth yesterday. He thought he was "babysitting" the pastor's ten-week old Jack Russell puppy. He decided to entertain Buster by allowing the short-legged pup to chase him in and out of the kitchen and around the other direction to form a circular race track. At one point, Ethan seemed to be tiring, and Buster caught up and actually surpassed Ethan.

I said, "Ethan, I think Buster won the race."  To which he replied, "Nu-huh. Buster broke the rules. You were supposed to stop right here." And he pointed to the very spot where his feet were planted.  His father noted, "Ethan has a tendency to change the rules. Like Buster even KNEW the rules!"

We may laugh at Ethan's childish rule-making and rule-changing, but we must admit we all do this at times. We have expectations of others, and just when they figure things out, we "change the rules." And others treat us the same way. It is frustrating without proper communication to ever know exactly WHAT others expect of us. Like Buster, we might be excelling by even getting ahead of the pack and we believe we have won the race. Then we discover something has changed, and someone else is actually the noted achiever. This often happens in our work places and even in our relationships.

Fortunately, God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His expectations are contained in the same Word of God that has been preserved since the time the author penned the inspired words. We don't have to worry about Him changing the finish line. If we add anything to the Bible regarding what God expects of us, we are only designing a man-made religion.

PRAYER: Father, show me how to better communicate what I really expect of people, so they don't have to read my mind. I'm so glad You communicate clearly with me, and You never change the rules!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever,” Hebrews 13:8 KJV.

Today’s devotion is by Kathy Carlton Willis, wife to Russ, pastor’s wife to many, author, editor, publicist and speaker.  Kathy Carlton Willis Communications encompasses her many passions. Learn more at: http://kcwcomm.blogspot.com/ or http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/.