Tag Archives: Follow

Following the Direction of God

01 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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ID-100326043Throughout our time of living, there has been a multitude of technology that has assisted us in our daily lifestyle. From email to text messaging to the ability to research information via the internet. Another form of technology is that of the institution of having access to GPS. The acronym ‘GPS’ stands for ‘Global Positioning System.’ GPS technology is U.S. owned and it is designed to allow users of the system to achieve navigation through real-time results. It also utilizes satellite capability which allows each user to connect to navigation via a device (e.g. hand-held GPS).

Essentially, this technology was created with the intention to track a user’s whereabouts so that said user can find their destination with the guidance of the available technology. Each individual is located within the system and given a destination based on a pinpoint of their location. The course is then charted in which the best possible route is given to the user for them to follow on their journey.

Spiritually speaking, our lives are designed to be led but to be led by God. When you look at the world around you, there are so many ways that one can take to a point where one’s pathway can become convoluted. So many voices are calling out to you and I on a daily basis, however, the pathway that is certain is the one that is surrendered unto to God. It is only by God’s leading that we are able to avoid the catastrophe of a life that is led astray toward destruction.

In the book of Isaiah chapter 30, the account of Judah and its rebellion is given in the scripture. Judah was a Kingdom (also known as the Southern Kingdom) which was divided from the Northern Kingdom.  Both the Northern and the Southern Kingdom were originally made up of 12 tribes which comprised the people of Israel. The 12 tribes experienced disunity and division which resulted in the split of two Kingdoms with Judah being one of the Kingdoms.

In the first part of this passage, Judah is recorded as being in a rebellious state against God. The people of Judah wanted to make a treaty with Egypt in order to receive protection against the Assyrians. Isaiah had given a prophecy in chapter 10 about the Assyrians capturing Israel (the Northern Kingdom). In scripture, it was also prophesied that Judah (the Southern Kingdom) would also be captured by the Assyrians. So, as a result, the nation of Judah began to look to Egypt as their way out.

Verses 1-3:

(NLT) “What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the Lord. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins. For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade. But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated, and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.” 

Verses 4-5:

(NLT) “For though his power extends to Zoan and his officials have arrived in Hanes, all who trust in him will be ashamed. He will not help you. Instead, he will disgrace you.”

The above verses point to the judgment and words of anger that God brought against Judah because they failed to trust in God. Instead, Judah sought Egypt that historically had been a pagan and godless society. For their disobedience against God, the people of Judah found themselves in a situation that was both destructive and uncertain.

In verses 8-17, the warning against rebellion is given to the people of Judah. The judgment that is given further stated what would occur if they chose not to follow and trust in God Almighty. However, in verses 18-30 there is a reverse to the judgment of what will occur if the people of Judah chose to trust in God and to follow Him.

Verses 18-20:

(NLT) “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more, He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes.” 

Notice what it says in verses 21-22:

(NLT) “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, “Good riddance!”

They key point of verses 21 and 22 is that the people will hear the Lord’s voice and God’s voice will utter the words, “This is the way you should go.” These words signify a directive and as the scripture says, that the people would destroy their idols because they would choose to be obedient unto the voice of the Lord.

As it relates to following the direction of God, there are blessings that come when we are obedient and when we follow God’s leading. In this particular passage of scripture, the people of Judah were self-reliant to the point that they trusted in another resource rather than trusting in God who is the source for all stability. There are many who are doing the same today.

Many are trusting in other resources whether it be their bank account, the economy, the media, or even themselves. As a result, the path that is taken is one that is unstable and it is no longer a path of certainty. If you look at the world around us, there are many problems that humanity faces. Part of it is because of the blatant sinfulness that humanity continues to engage in. However, despite the troubles that are apparent, trusting in God through Jesus Christ is what will institute safety and a pathway that remains uninhibited.

It is only when we choose to follow our own path or the paths of others that we fall short. Just like a GPS has a predetermined route, God has a predetermined path for you and I to follow.  However, if we deviate from that path then it is likely that we will experience a loss in time and a loss in our direction.  The world offers a system in which you can choose your own path.

The truth is, God also allows us the ability to choose what we will do with our lives. However, if we make all of our decisions without Him and His leading, then we will experience negative repercussions for our disobedience. The people of Judah rejected God’s direction and as a result they suffered at the hands of the Assyrians. However, those who chose God rather than their own path were spared.

We are living in a time in which we cannot afford to reject God’s Wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit. So many perils await us as we attempt to live in this life. However, with God’s help, you and I are able to navigate through the snares and pitfalls that the enemy presents to us.  If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Personal Lord & Savior, you are not able to be led because you are in your sin. Accept Christ and allow God to lead you as you live in a world that is constantly changing.  Only in Christ are you able to maintain stability in addition to receiving the blessings that God has for you to obtain.

Obedience – Ensuring Your Protection

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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When you think of the law, what comes to your mind?  Is it a picture of a judge who presides over a court ruling?  Do you think of a police officer who holds the responsibility of protecting citizens from harm? If you thought of these two figures of authority, then you have the correct view in terms of what represents law and order. However, within a system of law that is working properly, there must be an element of obedience.  What does obedience encompass concerning law?

For laws to establish order and for such laws to be effective, they must be followed. Laws are put into place in order to create a system of orderly conduct, and to avoid chaos.  A nation without laws is a nation that operates in lawlessness which leads to an existence of negative consequences.  In a society that is governed by law, most do not actively disobey to the point of being arrested because they understand that laws are put into place to protect their well being.

While laws that were instituted by humans were designed for our protection, God has also established a standard and His own set of laws that are to protect us.  An example of what disobedience looks like can be found in 1 Samuel 15.  Samuel was called at an early age to be a Prophet to the nations. In this chapter, Samuel tells King Saul (Saul was anointed to be King over Israel) to completely destroy a group of people called the “Amalekites”. The Amalekites were a nation of sinful and wicked people, who God had given King Saul the order of destroying for their assault against Israel.

In verse 3 it says:

(NIV) “Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”

So King Saul begins by destroying the Amalekites in verse 7 while also taking Agag (King of the Amalekites) alive.  However, notice what it says in verse 9:

(NIV) “But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.”

It was God’s original order to Saul in verse 3, that Saul kill everyone and everything leaving virtually nothing behind. But as we see in verse 9, King Saul, and his men take what is good which are the sheep, cattle, fat calves and lambs.  Essentially, by taking what was left, Saul was acting in disobedience to what God had said.  In verses 16 – 22, Samuel begins an exchange with Saul when he tells him of God’s displeasure.  Basically, in these verses Saul attempts to justify his disobedience. In verse 21, Saul uses the justification that his men took the animals left behind so that they could  use them as burnt offerings unto the Lord.

However, even with that justification, Saul acted in disobedience. So, Samuel gives Saul the final word of judgment in verses 22-23.

(NIV) “But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

In the end, King Saul was removed as King over Israel for his disobedience. Saul believed that what he was doing was right in his own eyes, but he chose to defy what God had given him to do.  As a result, his kingship was over. Often times we in our own lives, live in disobedience unto God.  Whenever we are blatantly sinful and reject the warnings and words of God, there are consequences.

Just as Saul experienced his dethronement, we too are open to God’s judgment if we disobey.  By nature, humanity is prideful because of being born into sin. So, naturally we are inclined to reject the authority of God in our sinfulness. However, when we do so, we are open to God’s judgment and to negative consequences.

We are living in a global society that promotes secular humanism and living as you see fit. However, Proverbs 3:7 says not to  be wise in your own eyes but to shun evil. The reason is because when we live under our own guidance apart from God’s, we will always suffer the consequences.  We are seeing a society all around us that is degenerating because of the sin that is being promoted.

Sinfulness is active disobedience unto God, and it is the very sin that God will not stand for. God is a Holy God and it is His will that we follow after His ways and not our own. Those who are secular humanists try to institute the very idea that obedience unto God isn’t necessary nor is it best for humanity. That is because secular humanists shun accountability which means that one can do what they feel is the right thing to do without consequence.

However, God shows us daily and throughout scripture that any person or nation that openly or privately defies God will pay a heavy price. Obedience to God is paramount to the success and stability of our lives because He puts His standards into place for our protection.  Why is it that premarital sex or fornication as scripture says, is something to flee from according to 1 Corinthian 6:18? Engaging in fornication causes various illnesses, in addition to tying the souls of two individuals because of how sex is a covenant.  It causes not only physical damage but also emotional damage which is why Paul says to flee from sexual immorality.

Why is it that God instituted the commandments of “thou shalt not kill” and “thou shalt not steal”? Simply because, engaging in either of these acts is sure to create negative consequences.  The other reason is because the root of stealing and even killing is based out of sinfulness which is against what God desires for each of our lives.  The point is that God desires that we live in obedience unto Him, because He knows the negative consequences that can occur if we do not follow what He has said. The other reason is because obedience shows our love for God.

John 15:10 says, (NLT) “When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” Basically, when you follow God in obedience you are proving your allegiance and love for Him.  This is how you know that your devotion to God is authentic – when you walk in obedience.  The first step to obedience is to surrender your life to Christ.  By accepting Christ’s sacrifice in the pardon of your sins, you are a step closer to protection from negative consequences. Obedience is indeed better than sacrificing your well being.  Choose Christ, and ensure your protection through obedience to God.

Allowing Jesus to Lead You As the Good Shepherd

29 Friday May 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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ID-100127940In October of 2005, American Idol winner Carrie Underwood released the popular song “Jesus take the wheel.”  It was a song that was played on various radio stations and was downloaded repeatedly.  This Grammy award-winning song received the status of double platinum in the U.S., and was certified as Gold in Canada.  It was a song that provoked the notion that we all need the guidance of Jesus, but we must surrender in order for our lives to find direction. In the chorus of this song the lyrics are as follows:

“Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can’t do this on my own”

“I’m letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I’m on
Jesus, take the wheel”

Like this song, the scripture of Psalm 23 which is a familiar passage reminds all of us that we need the guidance of God in our lives. The Bible makes it clear that the Lord is indeed the Good Shepherd over the flock of those who are willing to follow Him.  In the first two verses of Psalm 23 it says in the NIV, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,” The key word in this scripture is “lead.” The Lord is there to lead us and guide us.

If you read further it says in verse 3, “he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” We should look at God as one who will lead us and guide us. Often times we attempt to steer or guide our own lives into a certain direction. Have you ever heard of the phrase, “I am the captain of my own ship?” Those who operate in such a manner are destined for failure, because they are leading themselves without the one who can steer them away from calamity.  

In John 10, Jesus is speaking to Pharisees about the concept of being the Good Shepherd.  In the beginning verses, Jesus gives the example that anyone who tries the enter the sheep pen by any other means is a thief and a robber.  He then goes on to say that the sheep know the voice of the shepherd and they follow, but the voice of a stranger they will not follow. In verse 7 Jesus says, (NIV) “Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.”  In verses 14-15 He says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

What Jesus is saying is, that He is the good shepherd.  He is the one who leads, guides, and protects those who are within His fold.  Our lives have meaning and direction when we are willing to submit to the leadership of Christ.  There are so many voices that are calling out to us, trying to get us to veer off course. However, if you are in Christ and have accepted Him as Lord and Savior, then you will learn to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd through relationship.

Everyday, voices in the world call us with the attempt to get our attention.  From the media, to sources on the internet, to those within our lives.  These are sources that are vying for our attention with the effort to lead and command a following.  The fact is, our world has become built on the element of “following” others.  For example, Twitter has etched the word “follow” in the minds of many which has caused the campaign of “Follow us on Twitter.” This isn’t to say that social networking is a bad thing, however the goal shouldn’t be to follow after the things of this world.

Instead, our lives should be centered around a Holy God who leads us and guides us.  It is God who assists us in avoiding the pitfalls of life. Seeking after the things of this world and following the order set in place, will always lead to confusion and eventual ruin. However, as verse 3 says in Psalm 23, the Lord guides us along the right paths for His name sake.  If we are willing to give up our own way, and acknowledge God and His sovereignty, then He will guide us on His righteous path.

The path of a sin filled life is one of calamity.  There are so many in our society today that are seeking peace and attempting to lead their own lives. However, many do not find peace but they find trouble.  Instead of finding a lack of peace, Psalm 23 verse 2 says that the Lord leads us beside still waters.  This means, God leads us in the way of peace.  To see a body of water that is still is to focus on an entity that is calm or peaceful.

There is one major attribute of the Good Shepherd that we should not overlook and that is, His willingness to find us where we are. In Luke 15 verses 3-7, Jesus is speaking to tax collectors, sinners, and Pharisees when He gives what is called the “Parable of the Lost Sheep.” In this parable He says in verses 4-7:

(NIV) “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” 

This is what the Good Shepherd does for all of us.  He seeks to find us because we are lost in our sin.  While there will be those that remain in their sin and will be lost, God never stops looking for each individual. The invitation to receive salvation and to be welcomed into the fold is open to all.  As the above scripture points out, the Good Shepherd will leave the rest of the flock to go after the one who is lost.

That is how much God loves you and I.  He loved you so much that He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sins. It is in that act of love that we have the opportunity to be brought back to God through connection with Christ.  Are you lost and wandering in the ways of this world?  Have you tried every method to achieve peace and stability only to find that nothing works? The best way to find peace and stability is to accept Christ as your savior.  The Good Shepherd, He is waiting for you.