03/19/2023
Does God lead us in the way we should go, and if so, what awaits us at the end of our journey? This is what I ponder this morning. Do we know the Person of the one who leads us and if so, do we need to fully understand where He is leading us before we follow Him?
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
Hebrews 11:8 ESV
Often we get tied up in the material things we pass in route to faithfulness and eternity. We see what others have or the apparent riches of the world and we long for them; even in our prayers. We get dismayed when we fail in life, or in obtaining some things we have determined to be of faith... and we begin to drag our feet and whine about our problems or shortcomings. We even get discouraged when we can't apply our intellect to God's will and fully understand it. Oswald Chambers spoke of this today in my devotional reading when he wrote:
"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading. It is a life of faith, not intellect and reason, but a life of knowing who makes us "go." The root of faith is the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest snares is the idea that God is sure to lead us to success." - Oswald Chambers
If we trust in God, and have faith, we don't need to know where God is taking us... it is enough to trust in Him. In our opening scripture, Abraham didn't know where he was going, but he knew the character of God and had faith in His leadership; he believed that God was leading him to good.
Our discussion this morning touches on two topics that I have written and taught on before... character, and perseverance. As Chambers spoke of, we don't need to know where God is leading us if we trust and have faith in His character. We might have our own idea of where we are going, but that usually isn't the same place God has in mind.
Take for instance... What you do on your job is of little consequence to God outside of those character lessons He can teach you through it. The fact that you have great wealth means nothing to the creator of the universe, but what He can lead you to do with that wealth matters a great deal, and is a tool in teaching you such things as charity and loving your neighbor. We get so wrapped up in asking the Lord for things that we lose sight of why we should be asking.
The destination of God's way is not a place in which we have great wealth or an intellect that is impressive... neither of these things could exist without him having first given them to us. What God is leading us to is a character that is like His. He leads us towards patience, kindness, humility, love, charity, goodness, and the list of traits goes on, and we can read of them in straight forward scripture such as...
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV
Sometimes we learn these lessons in joy, while at other times in sorrow. Whether it be through love or hate, wealth or poverty, gain or loss, answered prayer or not; whatever our life's circumstances... the place at the end of our journey is God’s character, and not acquisitions or intellect.
I watched the movie "Fences" starring Denzel Washington; it was about a damaged and imperfect man and his family, but the main character in it had a brother who was mentally disabled. This disabled brother thought his reason for living was to blow a trumpet which would tell St. Peter to open the gates of heaven. God made both men, but one went through life living it out of duty and obligation, while the other lived life in simple faith. The question to ponder is this... which man did God value most? Or perhaps it would be better phrased as... did God value one more than the other? I won't ruin this movie for you by revealing more, but it is worth watching.
When God places you in a position of power it is about more than pleasing you... it is about teaching you lessons in character. As for the man who is less fortunate and lives his life with a man of power who lords over him; keeping him in poverty; it isn't a punishment... it too is a lesson in character… humility, perseverance, or one of many other character traits.
I really like a certain scripture and have taught on it before. Here it is...
“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 ESV
Many people read this scripture and only envision "mounting up with wings like eagles" but if you read the previous three verses they all deal with fainting. It isn't about soaring, it is about walking, and so is the journey God has us on. Sure we might fly from time to time, but the lesson always brings us back to walking without fainting. Perseverance... a character trait that God excels at, and one we must be constantly reminded of.
So God leads us, and he is leading us to become more like Himself. At journeys end that is the destination; Jesus tells us as much in an incredibly wonderful verse..,
“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”
John 14:20 ESV
Prayer:
Father, help me to walk without fainting as I travel through my life of faith. Lead me in my steps and teach me to be more like you at every turn. Let your Holy Spirit give me understanding and your Son Jesus to teach me how to love and obey. Lord, never let me mistake what is important in this world for what is ultimately important to you. Give me those things I need to sustain me on this journey, and let me continue walking until you have completed your work in me. No matter my circumstances in life, let me see you in them, and come to realize who you are through them. Teach me of your character, and give me a deeper understanding of you in all that I experience. In this way I will be washed in the blood of Jesus and partake of His flesh without turning away, and I will bear my cross and persevere, following Him without fainting. In the horror the world sees in the passion of Christ I will see only your love, and in the resurrection of Jesus I will experience your mercy and grace. These things, and all that you teach, will become not only who you are, but who I have become in you.
"For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 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. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
1 Peter 2:19-25 ESV
Rich Forbes