12/08/2019
Where do you look for help when your footing of Faith becomes uncertain? Where do you turn to be uplifted, and made firm in your faith once more? When you begin to sink into an envy of the world what secures your step? Those who worship the world might look to be prosperous and happy in their wickedness, but their singing lasts only a night, and their path is slippery... even unto death.
“But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
Psalms 73:2-3 ESV
Our God not only provides us with His eternal life, and love, but He gives us a sure way to come to know Him through His Son Jesus Christ. We might find stumbling blocks in our path that wait to trip us up, but God gives us strength to defeat them, and an escape, or alternate path, to avoid them.
“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.”
Psalms 121:2-3 ESV
There will be times in every Christian’s life when they will doubt their own faith. There will be times of uncertainty when the way ahead will become slippery; when believers will be afraid of an uncertain step, and of falling headlong to their death. However, in such moments of terror and uncertainty we are never alone. Our God’s love will be thrown to us in rescue as if it were a life rope, and hold us safely up. This rope is held firmly in the hand of Jesus.
“When I thought, "My foot slips," your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
Psalms 94:18-19 ESV
Sometimes enemies confront us as if they are our friends, and tempt us with worldly lies of prosperity, happiness, and a joy in sinning. These false friends are made to slip and fall into the chasm of death just as surely as we are lifted up, and given firm footing on the road to eternal life. They may look to be successful, and prosperous, but in the end they are swept away.
“Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!”
Psalms 73:18-19 ESV
However, now we are meant to follow the certain steps of Jesus. We follow Him in suffering by picking up His cross, and unlike those who seek after the temptation of the world’s apparent ease and frivolity we are secured by God’s truth, and promise. In following Jesus in this way, our steps are sure, and our eternal reward is made certain.
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
1 Peter 2:21 ESV
How does our way ahead look to us right now? Is the path narrow, and slippery? Are we fearful, and flirting with doubt regarding our Lord’s sure hand? Well, turn away from the naysayers, and the worldly tempers who would convince us that God is unable to keep our steps certain... or that what appears to be muddy and slippery, is not. Trust in God’s love to secure our steps.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the truth in your promises, and the sure steps you lead us in. Thank you for your love which we see in your Son Jesus Christ, and the certainty of his pure and righteous way. Keep our steps secure Holy Father, but if we should slip, give us the courage to lunge for your strong hand, and give us the confidence in your redemption and forgiveness. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who leads us over dry and firm ground. Praised be your name for making each of our steps certain. Glorious is your name, and unwavering is your promise of safe passage through this world. All glory is yours Father by the grace which flows through your Son Jesus. We worship you in spirit and truth Father as we look at your perfect way ahead.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Colossians 2:6-7 ESV
Rich Forbes