Does God's Word Guide Your Path?
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· 9 viewsLetting God's word guide us
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“Does God's Word Guide Your Path?” 08/05/18
“Does God's Word Guide Your Path?” 08/05/18
The company I work for does consulting with executives who are looking for new positions. We have experienced advisors who meet with them weekly to guide them in the process. They pay thousands of dollars for our services, and yet there are some clients who refuse to follow our advice. Some of them believe that since they paid us so much we’re going to do all the work for them. Others think that they know better how to find a new job. Some just feel unable to or afraid to take some of the steps. Then they complain that it’s not working. Does that make sense to you? We know that our process works, but the client has to follow it.
Do we do the same thing with the Bible, however? We’ve been looking at the Bible over the past few weeks. It is the inspired word of God, His expression of love to us given to develop a relationship with us. We’ve seen the importance of spending time, not just reading it but studying and memorizing. It builds our faith, and teaches us God’s will. We know that God is always faithful to His word. We can know all of this, study it every day, but it won’t do us any good if we don’t follow what it says.
The psalmist writes:
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
One of the reasons God gave is the Bible is to guide our path, to show us how to live.
One of the reasons God gave is the Bible is to guide our path, to show us how to live.
Lamp/light
Lamp/light
Reveals
Who God is – His holiness and His love, His justice and His compassion
Who we are – separated from God apart from Jesus Christ
What God has done for us – sending Jesus
God’s will for us – the best path to follow, although often the most difficult
Gives understanding
Opens our eyes and our minds to be able to understand spiritual things
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Feet/path
Feet/path
We are on a journey – can’t stay where we are, the way we are. Never promised that the journey would be easy or the path smooth.
The way to live
Not a detailed map, that would be different for each of us. Doesn’t show us the whole journey, but enough for the next step. Gives principles we can apply to any situation.
Leads us closer to God
Leads us to a more satisfying life
Obedience
Obedience
Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
When you are going somewhere you’ve never been before do you consult a map or use a GPS system to find the way? We can have the best GPS system on the market giving us perfect directions, but if we don’t follow those directions we may not get where we want to go. None of us have been to tomorrow. We don’t know what the future holds, we don’t know the best path to take to get there, but God does. Even the best GPS systems have to updated periodically, but God’s word never needs updating. It is always reliable. Living our lives without following God’s word is like driving at night where there are no streetlights and not using our headlights.
When you are going somewhere you’ve never been before do you consult a map or use a GPS system to find the way? We can have the best GPS system on the market giving us perfect directions, but if we don’t follow those directions we may not get where we want to go. None of us have been to tomorrow. We don’t know what the future holds, we don’t know the best path to take to get there, but God does. Even the best GPS systems have to updated periodically, but God’s word never needs updating. It is always reliable. Living our lives without following God’s word is like driving at night where there are no streetlights and not using our headlights.
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
We can trust the direction God gives us, even if we don’t understand where it is leading or what’s aeround the next corner. God is faithful to His word.
We can trust the direction God gives us, even if we don’t understand where it is leading or what’s aeround the next corner. God is faithful to His word.
We can trust the direction God gives us, even if we don’t understand where it is leading or what’s aeround the next corner. God is faithful to His word.
Fortunately, we also have the Holy Spirit living in us to help us follow the light of God’s word. The Spirit is our teacher, helping us remember and understand how to apply that word, and also our strength, giving us the power to live according to the word.
Imagine going to heaven and standing by God as He lovingly shows you His plan for your life. It begins with the day you are born. Once you received Christ as Savior, every day that follows is outlined in red. You see footprints walking through each day of your life. On many of the days, two sets of footprints appear. You inquire: “Father, are those my footprints every day, and is the second set of prints when You joined me?”
He answers, “No, My precious Child. The consistent footprints are Mine. The second set of footprints are when you joined Me.”
“Where were You going, Father?”
“To the destiny I planned for you, hoping you’d follow.”
“But, Father, where are my footprints all those times?”
“Sometimes you went back to look at old resentments and habits. Sometimes, you chose your own path. Other times, your footprints appear on another person's calendar because you liked their plan better. Sometimes, you simply stopped because you would not let go of something you could not take with you.”
“But, Father, we ended up OK even if I didn’t walk with You every day, didn’t we?”
He holds you close and smiles, “Yes, Child, we ended up OK. But, you see, OK was never what I had in mind for you.”
God wants the very best for us. In the Bible God tells us how to live. Jesus came to make it possible.
As we come to the Lord’s table we have the chance to consider how we may have strayed from God’s path and ask forgiveness, getting back on track.