the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time
“Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.”
There is a right and a wrong way of doing everything, and this is certainly true in the matter of obtaining guidance. Today’s verse describes the wrong way. It pictures a man building a bonfire, then using the fire and the sparks to provide illumination for his path.
Notice that there is no mention of consulting the Lord. There is no suggestion that the man has made it a matter of prayer. He has unbounded confidence that he knows the best way. In his arrogant independence, he leans on his own understanding. In Henley’s words, he is the master of his own fate and the captain of his own soul.
But notice the aftermath! “This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.” The man who manufactures his own guidance is heading for trouble. Anyone who is that headstrong and willful will live to regret it. He will learn by experience that God’s way is the best way.
The preceding verse (v. 10) gives us the right way of obtaining guidance. It says, “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” Notice three things about this man. First of all, he fears the Lord in the sense that he fears displeasing Him or walking in independence of Him. Second, he obeys the voice of God’s Servant, the Lord Jesus. Third, he is willing to admit that he walks in darkness and has no light. He acknowledges that he does not know which way to go.
What should such a person do? He should trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. In other words, he should acknowledge his own ignorance, ask the Lord to guide him, and depend completely on the divine guidance.
Our God is a God of infinite wisdom and love. He knows what is best for us and designs only what is for our good.
He knows, He loves, He cares.
Nothing this truth can dim.
He does the very best for those
Who leave the choice to Him.
'Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time' Copyright 2007 © William MacDonald. 'Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time' articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. You may not use the material for commercial purposes. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
