The second favorite verse

At various times for various reasons I need to change the format of Shout For Joy. Starting on 5/25 I will be working on Solomon’s Proverbs and The Jesus Story on alternate weeks. Just wanted you to know. Almost all previous columns
are available as Kindle eBooks and several of those are in paperback as well.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, not in what you understand from your limited perspective. Consult him about everything in life and he will keep you on the right path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
 
We have come to a verse of scripture that is almost as well known as John 3:16. It would be hard to find a Christian adult who has not recited this verse in a time of decision. Should I or should I not? Is this what God wants me to do? What about its impact on my family? Then comes the verse and we hear God telling us to trust him completely in the decision. It’s okay to think about the options, but when push comes to shove, don’t trust your own insights. What you know is only a part of the story; God knows the entire story and wants to help you make the right decision. And it doesn’t matter whether that decision is really big and important or relatively mundane; he knows best. Our role is to “submit to him” (NIV) so he can direct our lives as he wishes.
      I have the feeling that quite often, when teaching a portion of scripture or using it for a sermon, it would be best for the expositor to step aside and allow the reader to use the time for personal meditation on the text. In the long run we really know only that which is revealed to us. Spiritual truth is personal and fulfills its purpose when it becomes active in a person’s life. So I will stop here . . . or should I risk interfering with how God may be speaking to you through the above verses of scripture? Perhaps we may be able to achieve both.
      I suspect that my decisions throughout life have not been much different than yours. When faced with the reality of sin and it’s penalty, I quickly “headed down the aisle.” I questioned where to go for higher education, what professional job I should take in life, who I should marry, etc. As I look back there is one thing I can say with certainty and that is, when I did what our passage for today says, I found that the result was always good. And I mean always! But when I didn’t listen, I got into trouble. Christian’s agree that God’s plan for life is the best, and the fact that we sometimes veer from this path simply validates the scriptural teaching that the old nature is flawed and wants us to repeat indefinitely the mistake in the Garden of Eden.
      So let’s reflect for a few moments on what God has to say about guidance in these two verses. How about at least two minutes for each? Ask yourself (1) What is God saying to me in this sentence? and (2) How is it going in my life?
 
        “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”
 
        “Don’t lean on your own understanding.”
 
        “Submit to Him in all your ways.”
         
      “He will keep you on the right path.”
 
I’m glad you took my suggestion and if you jotted down what God was saying to you, it would be interesting to compare notes – one sinner saved by grace to another.