Will we choose the path where the Lord leads?
Deuteronomy 8:2 “And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.”
All the circumstances which come into our lives….in the path that the Lord leads us in….is laid out…to…
….show us our weakness….and show us God’s faithful might for us…that we might become totally dependent upon Him….leaning on our Beloved through this world.(Song of Solomon 8:5)
We do not know what is in our hearts until certain circumstances come….which show our weaknesses.
Peter truly felt he would never betray Christ…but he did.
He got into circumstances which “pushed” against his fear for his life….and he denied the One he loved. (John 21:15-19)
Paul speaks of this…
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead;”
This trouble came in the path of duty….and the Lord had a lesson in that path.
Because of this trouble….Paul despaired. (Despaired here means that mentality there was no way out…so that it distressed his mind.)
But he learned…. “that we should not trust in ourselves”:
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
When we begin our journey on our path with Christ, we do not know our own hearts.
But as we go further into the path He leads us in,…circumstances are placed in front of us which will bring out of us how we truly are.
True, we love the Lord…..but will we stand with Him in the face of trouble?
Yes, we know the Lord knows everything….but do we trust Him when suddenly things seem to fall apart….now?
◦ The more we see our lack….the more we should stay close to Christ….getting more of His grace for our circumstances.
Sometimes the lessons show us that…..we trust Christ with our hearts…..but not with our bodies. Illness…broken bones….and weakened abilities, often can cause us to look to someone or something else other than Christ.
Sometimes the Lord shows us that we trust Him…for eternity; but fear and doubt Him for our “daily bread”. Are we trusting our own wisdom or schemes then?
Luke 9:23-24 “And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me,…”
(Here is the crux of the matter, will we come after Him, no matter what the situation or circumstances? If you will…then…)
“…let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.”
We have heard this call before (Matthew 16:24-25)…..but here is added the very telling word….”daily”.
This is an everyday, ongoing thing, until we stand in His presence.
As an old preacher once wrote….”only when we realize we are unable to do without God for a moment….do we find what He is for us, moment by moment.”
I remember many colossal crises in my life….times when the Lamentations of Jeremiah (Lamentations 3:1-25 “…when I cry and shout,…”)……were more my prayers than the praises of the Psalms…but again and again the Lord reminds me….
….”I have led you….I will lead you…do not just “hang on”…..but hang on to Me, and see My hand in it all.”
Sometimes I did not want to….I wanted to see the people or the situations….but He kept lifting my face to His….
“This is the key….this is the answer….deny yourself today, and follow Me…..and I will lead you through.”
His life….think of it as I often do…..His life in mine….here and now….this is what He offers all who will.
Will we choose the path where the Lord leads?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 