Responding in obedience to God
When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood, but they are not heeded. Proverbs 29:18-19
Christians live by God’s revelation while the world relies on human reason. From the text, God wants His children to seek out guidance and counsel from His word. The world will tell us that it is passé and archaic to seek wisdom from God’s word. The sad thing is that there are Christians that will go along the tide of the culture where they will pursue grand and noble purposes yet far from what God desires for them. People in our culture will seek out things from the world only to find that they are not satisfying. At times, they end up longing for more for they remain empty within and wander in life aimlessly. There will be those that will establish their goals and objectives in life and then organize themselves to achieve them. God’s people will arrange their lives based on the counsel they receive from His word and the leading of His Spirit. How often they discover that what God leads them to do may not coincide with their personal preference and may not be fashionable with the culture. Regardless of whether it makes sense to them or not, all He asks of His children is to trust Him. He is not after our opinion about what is best for our future, our family, our church, or our country for He already knows! Whenever people do not base their lives on God’s wisdom found from His word, they “run wild.” That is, they seek to do what is pleasing and right in their own eyes. But just like the warning given to those who will continue to disobey, “words alone will not discipline.” This meant that God will not let disobedience in the life of His children ignored. When words are not understood, He has to discipline. And when God disciplines it is always for our benefit. “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” (Hebrews 12:11). When you hear from God and you will, He wants one response, and that is obedience. The best place to be in life is to trust the Lord and obey His word for “...trusting the Lord means safety” (Proverbs 29:25).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
