Hosanna Restoration Church

Last time we posed the question, “Who is leading.” Now we see that the Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Now that sounds like a good promise. So why did He feel the need to throw in the warning not to be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and a bridle to keep it under control? Think about this.

I remember as a child going with a friend and riding his Shetland pony. That little thing was mean and stubborn. It would rather bite you than let you ride it. It did not want to be led, and seldom would it go where you wanted it to go as you rode. There was not really much that was enjoyable about being around that pony! One good thing was that it really made you appreciate the other horse that was gentle and just wanted to take you for a ride and go where you wanted to go.

No one likes being around people that are stubborn, mean, and unmanageable, and yet people often expect God to just allow any sort of behavior. I don’t think we realize that when we resist the truth of His word we are acting just like that unruly pony. I am always blessed and amazed when I see people who have trained horses to do amazing things with just a gesture, a nudge, or a word. You can tell that there is a mutual love there. Can God tell by our actions that we have a mutual love for Him?

Oh yes, I know, no one is perfect! Well when people use that excuse it is pretty much like saying, “Take me like I am, because this is the way it is going to be.” For some reason we expect God to accept things that we would never accept from another person. We expect Him to overlook all the things that we know are wrong. Some are so deceived that they think that if God does not make them do right things or stop them from wrong things then He must not mind. Well He does mind. He wants us to choose to follow the path that He has marked.

If someone is on a trail and decides to go their own way, it is not the trail marker’s fault if they get lost. They can make all the excuses they want and blame whoever they want, but if they left the trail and got lost, they did it to themselves. It is amazing when people do what they know is wrong and then wonder why God is causing them such problems. We need to settle something in our minds and hearts once and for all. God is not in the business of causing problems, He is the problem solver. We are causing ourselves problems by not following Him.

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.(vs. 10) Oh we don’t like to think of ourselves as wicked, we prefer to call it mistaken, but perhaps if we could see it as wicked to walk off the Lord’s path we would be quicker to present ourselves to Him as living sacrifices so that He can flood us with His presence and blessings! We just need to quit being stubborn and senseless and let the Lord lead us. Submit yourselves therefore totally to the Lord. Resist the devil and He will flee from you! Now that is freedom. That is the way to be. Today is a good day to go His way!