Staying on the Right Path
As I write this afternoon, we are experiencing a downpour of rain. It did rain a little earlier in the day, after more pleasant weather. I have spent most of the day getting ready for another trip to Atlanta. I fly out tomorrow and will return next Tuesday. It will be good to see Stephanie and family once again. As they moved to their new house, we told them perhaps it would allow us more of an opportunity to make some frequent visits.
I am always a surprised at my level of strength and energy. Perhaps I am trying to get into some old patterns and Debbie reminds me that I might not be awarer of how much I try to get done.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Lord, you have examined me and you know me. You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts. You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions.…Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way.“ Psalm 139:1-2,23-24
Just recently I was reading some verses that were a vivid description of God’s omnipresence (God everywhere, at the same time). Here in this well known Psalm is a vivid description of God’s omniscience (God knows everything, about everybody)
The first verse of this Psalm and the last ones form two bookends that reinforce the theme throughout these verses. It is clear that the Lord know us and has known us even before we were born. What is difficult to comprehend in our minds is not impossible for God. That is why the Psalmist declares, “Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding.” (Psalm 139:6)
It is one thing to grasp the infinite knowledge of God about our lives, it is another to invite the search light of His Spirit to shine into our lives and to allow us to see ourselves as we are. When we know that there are areas of disobedience in our lives, it can be difficult to admit and confront those. On the other hand, when we feel like we have our “act together” it is important for us to be open to the Lord showing ourselves to ourselves as He sees us.
The Lord’s watchfulness over our lives can give us the comfort and reassurance that He is with us to guide, protect and provide for us what is needed. When we face challenging situations we can trust the Lord to help us, to be with us. When we send children off to school or away from our watchful eye we can take assurance that the Lord is with them and aware of their actions and activity.
However, for them and for us, that may cause more conviction than comfort. I recall our Pastor recently mentioned how his youth pastor when he was a teen, had all the youth group, take with them a physical reminder of God’s presence as they made their way through their day. That visible reminder was to help them understand the spiritual reality that we are never outside of God’s care of watchful eye.
That in itself can conjuncture up images of a God with arms folded across His chest and a frown on His face. I don’t believe that is the case as much as a God with a broken heart if our ways are not pleasing to Him. God know us and all about us, can bring both comfort and conviction at various times in our life.
The final statement though is the key, “….lead me in the everlasting way” or as The Message paraphrase states it, “…guide me on the road to eternal life.” The goal is right relationship with God and others and the right direction for our lives. When we keep our hearts open, we can not only know if we are on the right path, but we can trust the Lord to guide us in the way we are to go.
As Psalm 27:11 puts it, “Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the right path…”