If you are young, you have probably heard that line. If you are a parent or have been in some position of authority, you might have said that. I did. I confess that it usually came at the end of an exhausting argument about “why” something had to be the way I said it had to be. I was done with logic, and I had exhausted my relational capital and simply wanted surrender. There are certainly times in a structured world where submission to authority is “the reason” to do something. It might not make sense to us, but we are compelled to do it or live in a state of anarchy, where “everyone does what is right in their own eyes.” This begs the question, “How does God work with us?” I hope you have noticed how gentle He is. He has given us instructions that reflect His ways in this world, but He very seldom gets in our face and says, “Do this because I said so.” He certainly could, and I am sure He has but that is not His demeanor. Since the goodness of His ways are self-authenticating, we’ll learn eventually, through experience, that His way is just better! He is smart. He is the One who knows what life is about and how to live. He could “power up” and scare us or even force us to live a certain way. He is God. But, where would the love be in that? How would that reflect His image? And, if all God wanted was a bunch of robots, He could have made us automatons. God has revealed Himself and His will in His Word. He has given us His Spirit. Let’s listen and walk in His ways. If we don’t, He loves us so much that when we’re ready to try He will help us…because He said so.