Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
These two verses are among the more familiar ones in the Bible. As I was reading these verses recently, one word jumped out at me. Used twice in this passage, the word “all” is of particular importance. Continue reading
When the Lord brought the children of Israel to the Promised Land, Moses reminded them of their commitments to Him before they crossed over to inhabit the land. The Israelites had agreed to keep the Lord’s commandments and reaffirmed that promise.
Deuteronomy 5:27 Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.
The Lord, Who knew their hearts, expressed His desire that they would indeed have a heart for Him to do all that they had committed.
Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
God knew that His way was best. His desire was that the Israelites experience the best He had to offer (“that it might be well with them”). The blessings they could experience would pass on to their posterity as well (“and with their children for ever”). However, He knew that their heart was not in the right place. As history shows, they would disobey Him and receive just recompense for their sin.
The same is true with us. God created life and He knows how life is best lived. Why do we not trust Him in this? God loves us as a parent loves his child. He wants the best for us, but like wayward children, we all to often refuse to give up our own selfish desires. We need to have a heart for God and obey Him. Then we can expect His blessing upon our lives.
Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
It is tempting for the Christian to focus on the physical things of life. Being physical beings, this is natural. So, we concern ourselves with how we look, maintaining our homes and cars, performing the chores we need to do, etc. There is nothing wrong with this. However, human beings also have a spiritual side. This is where we will find the most difficult areas of our life. Continue reading
5Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
As we enter into this election year, the words of this passage of Scripture should give us perspective. Politicians of all kinds make promises and sound as though they can solve every problem each one of us has. However, most of their rhetoric is just that. It is rare that any government official lives up to his or her promises. Continue reading