Page 31 - May 2015 Catalyst

2. He gives us enough light and truth to trust God rather than the “outcome” –
When David spoke of God’s word as a lamp, he was thinking of the small oil lamps of bib - lical days, which cast just enough light for the next few steps. Often at night, when I get up, rather than turn on a lamp, I use my cell phone to shine just enough light to show me where I am going. In a similar way, God shows us our next few steps – but not always the entire path and destination.
This engenders daily trust. If we knew the de- tails of the entire path, we would rely on the cer- tainty of the way, not the daily guidance of His word. Ifweknewtheoutcomewasdifficult, we might not take the next step of obedience. If we knew the outcome was pleasant, we would become apathetic in our faith.
The old hymn reminds us, “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way.” The chorus re- sounds, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.” Very often this unfolds a step at a time, not a mile at a time. We find the next step a day at a time, not always a year at a time.
3. He gives us enough light and truth to bring us to His presence –
David specifically wanted God to lead him
back to God’s holy hill and tabernacle, that place of worship in Old Testament times. Here he would rediscover joy, experience praise, and feel the deepest hope. This is similar to the writer in Psalm 73, who experienced deep angst of soul, but tasted peace and resolve when he entered the sanctuary of God (Psalm 73:17). He sensed God’s fresh presence and guidance (v. 23-24), then cried out, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...But it is good for me to draw near to God” (vv. 25, 26 & 28). Song- writer Matt Redman captured this same sense when he declared, “I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, Jesus.”
externaL and internaL direCtion
Externally, God directs our path, but ultimately He wants to draw our hearts. He helps us find “solutions” but ultimately wants us to again treasure the Savior. We need Him to resolve our problems and pain, but He knows our satis- faction is found in His presence. On one hand we move forward in life; at a different level, we move deeper in love. Indeed we cry,”Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead us back to You.”
Copyright © 2015 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.
May 2015
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