May 2010
Dear Friends,
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16) The ancient paths are the way of faithfulness, the right way that leads to a life of faith driven obedience and a path of consistent living. Do you ever wonder where is the path you are to be traveling? Are we choosing our life’s path without any regard for the path our God has just for us? Our paths will be different…some more worn than others, maybe from running back and starting over again and again. God has a straight way for each of us, but we fight it and reject it and question it. We do not always want to persevere. We get to a mountain to climb and we retreat or turn around and run back or choose another way when ultimately we must go over that mountain to learn what God has in store.
Have you ever wandered not knowing where to settle, been hungry and thirsty, feeling your life waste away? Have you ever been in the chains of depression and rejection? Have you chosen to rebel against God and suffered hardship? Have you wondered if God has any miracles left for you? In Psalm 107 the people were lost, they were imprisoned, they were rebellious and suffered affliction from their behavior and they doubted God. Yet, when they cried out to God, His unfailing love is always there. And that amazing love is for the taking for all of us as well.
Wandering (107:4-9)
“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” He has a straight way for us. He delivers us from our distress and leads us to His path for us if we will cry out to Him. He will satisfy our longing soul with Himself and His Word.
Darkness (107:13-16)
“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.” We all have suffered times of darkness and imprisonment whether we have served time in a government prison or in the prison of our own souls. Failure, low self esteem, addictions, hate, self-sufficiency can all be a prison that shackles us and impairs us and only God can break those chains.
Foolishness (107:19-22)
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress, He sent forth His Word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy.” Our rebellious ways can cause us all kinds of afflictions and trouble. Our foolishness is our sin nature…our choice to lie, steal, rebel against authority, talk and act unkindly to another, envy our neighbor and a million other things. God gives us His Word, the Bible, that helps heal our ugliness and make us like Him. He cleans us and cures us from our foolish ways.
Unbelief (107:28-32)
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.” These men were on a boat and they saw how awesome God was and His mighty works, but in their peril their courage melted away and they were at their wits end. Interesting, we see how mighty and powerful God is and experience His greatness, but when troubles come we forget and give up. We fail to believe that He is mighty to save us from any and every peril.
Did you notice the overwhelming repetitive truths in these four different situations? If we call on the Lord in our trouble he will save, deliver and bring us out of our distress. Also, let us give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Ways=paths. When we are praying for God to show us His way, we are asking Him to show us the straight path He has for us. Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.” He gives us the Holy Spirit that will speak to us and guide us in His way. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 16:25) The Lord says in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Therefore, we want God’s straight way and we graciously find that in God’s gift of grace in salvation through Jesus. The disciples were asking Jesus what is the way and Jesus answered. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Ultimately, God is leading us on a perfect path that points us to Jesus and back to God. He gives us the Holy Spirit when we meet Jesus and then we have our personal connection to the God of the universe that speaks to us and leads us and guides us on the straight path, the path that leads to eternal life where God will be waiting with open arms. If you have never met Jesus and do not understand, get on your face and call out to God in your confusion and He will answer. Ask your distribution team, call us, be persistent and ask questions. God has a way perfect for you and He wants you on the path. He will walk with you and help you and graciously forgive you over and over again when you fall prey to wandering, darkness, foolishness and unbelief. All we must do is cry out to Him and He will engulf us with His unfailing love and teach us how to take His straight way. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” (Psalm 37:5-6) He will make your way His way and teach you how to follow Him. He has given you Jesus. Open your heart to Him and He will give you direct access to the Father who loves you and gave His only Son for all of us that if we believe we may have life to the full.
And if you are on the path with God already and know Him as your Savior and Lord, hang on for the wild, incredible, loving journey of faith and obedience. The road you travel will not always be easy and will have mountains and valleys and pits and barren land, but Our God is bigger than any circumstance that comes our way and He will get us to the other side for His namesake and for His glory. We can trust Him when all we have is Him. In our greatest joys and deepest pain, He has proven to be ENOUGH. Stay straight friend; stay straight, unless He alone tells you to turn.
Living for His glory,
Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”