Psalm 37:23 Adonai directs a person’s steps,
and he delights in his way.
24 He may stumble, but he won’t fall headlong,
for Adonai holds him by the hand.
25 I have been young; now I am old;
yet not once have I seen the righteous abandoned
or his descendants begging for bread.
26 All day long he is generous and lends,
and his descendants are blessed.
27 If you turn from evil and do good,
you will live safely forever.
28 For Adonai loves justice
and will not abandon his faithful;
they are preserved forever.
But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and live in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous articulates wisdom,
his tongue speaks justice.
31 The Torah of his God is in his heart;
his footsteps do not falter.
32 The wicked keeps his eye on the righteous,
seeking a chance to kill him.
33 But Adonai will not leave him in his power
or let him be condemned when judged.
34 Put your hope in Adonai, keep to his way,
and he will raise you up to inherit the land.
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. (Complete Jewish Bible).
***
As I write this, our daughter Beatrice is learning to walk. She can crawl at light speed, stand on her own, and has taken her first few timid steps. At this point in her journey, she does really well when one of us is behind her, holding her up and making sure she doesn’t fall. She almost runs when one of us is with her. When she’s standing on her own and doesn’t think we are there, however, her steps are a lot more scary. At this point, she only makes it a few steps before she falls.
Today's passage from Psalm 37 applies this same image to God. Though we may stumble and our steps are timid, the Lord our God is right there with us, strengthening us and helping us not to fall. God holds us up with His own hand. Think about that for a moment. What would it be like to walk through this life, knowing God walks with us, watching out for us, helping us not to stumble and fall? Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, the One who comes alongside, God does precisely that in the lives of His children. It means we can relax, smile, take hold of His hand, and go for a walk.
Hymn for Today: "All the Way My Savior Leads Me" by Fanny J. Crosby.
1. All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well,
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
2. All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see.
3. All the way my Savior leads me;
Oh, the fullness of His grace!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s blest embrace.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.
Thought for Today: A highway will be there, a way,
called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not pass over it,
but it will be for those whom he guides —
fools will not stray along it. (Isaiah 35:8).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Colombia.
***
No comments:
Post a Comment