Discover His heart: He provides the best guidance for our lives
It seems like almost every day I run to the Internet for answers that I need immediately – what did I do before Google? Guess at the answers? The internet offers us an answer to every possible question within seconds just by one quick little Google click. It gives guidance and directions based on information handcrafted by man.
I love the 30 different German Chocolate Cake recipes I immediately had at my disposal to choose from today. Well, I may allow it to give me directions for a cake, but there’s not a chance it will provide instructions for my life unless, of course, God chose to use it for that purpose. Many wonderful scripture-based Christian sites are uplifting and are great ministry tools, but ultimately I turn to the Source of all knowledge for His guidance and direction.
Just as we are sojourners in this life on our way to Heaven, the Israelites were captive sojourners in Babylon. They were struggling to keep their faith grounded in the true and living God and were tempted by the idol worship of Babylonian gods going on all around them. In Isaiah 46, God reminded His people of the origin of these idols, “Some people pour out their silver and gold and hire a craftsman to make a god from it. Then they bow down and worship it! They carry it around on their shoulders, and when they set it down, it stays there. It can’t even move! And when someone prays to it, there is no answer. It can’t rescue anyone from trouble.” (6-7) I’ve known more than a few individuals who treat their computers/smartphones like an idol…pour out their cash to buy it…carry it around all day…and nearly worship it. Help!
As sojourners, we are surrounded by idols crafted by the world and capable of pulling us away from the true and living God. Besides the distraction the internet offers, we can find advice and counsel from television talk shows and news programs on just about every subject imaginable. Most of the information sources available to us today are helpful, but they are fallible and often derived from ungodly resources. Would we really want them to direct our lives?
“Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” (46:10) While our enemy would like us to think that he knows the future, he does not and only spews out what he wishes to be the future. Basing our direction on this false information is just as useless as man’s handcrafted devices. There really is only one Source that can be trusted.
“I am the Lord your god, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.” (48:17) While this is amazing in itself, God reveals the intimacy of His love for Israel and for all those who love Him, “See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” (49:16) Incredible! Why would I ever look to anyone or anything else for guidance in my life!
Moving Forward: It’s you, Lord, the one whose direction I seek, no one other than you.
Tomorrow @ Matthew 23-25
Phyllis Benigas 