I HAVE truly been enjoying the daily missives arriving in my email in-box from Bible Portal. If you are not receiving these, you can go to Bibleportal.com and subscribe to receive their daily devotionals.
THE reading for today (8/27) was particularity significant for me personally, as it referenced Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
I HAVE a very distinct recollection of that verse stemming back to my high school freshmen year, hearing a chapel speaker expound upon it, and for some reason, it has just stuck with me over the years; “he went out, not knowing where he was going.” To this day, whenever I’ve read that verse or hear it quoted, I nearly always hear that speaker’s voice anew.
SOME key phrases that resonated as I read through this Bible Portal offering were:
> The child can’t see where they’re going. But they know who is holding their hand.
> The darkness ahead was real. But so was the voice behind him. Every morning he woke up in an unfamiliar place, he was not moving toward uncertainty. He was moving toward a promise.
> …he went, even though he did not know where he was going. He didn’t know the destination. But he knew the One who did.
> That assurance, that conviction — neither one is a feeling. Both are a posture: choosing, again and again, to lean into the One who is leading
I HAVE a question for your consideration: What is the Christian Life like? How would you describe it to an uninitiated individual? At the prodding and encouragement of a friend, I made Matt 6:33 my life verse many years ago.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
But as the calendar has turned – venturing out these 8 decades not really knowing where I was going, Proverbs 3:5&6 has come along side to reinforced and complement Matt 6:33.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He shall direct your paths.
I’ve often shared with my grandchildren a story about their dads when they were very young. As I recall it, I took my first and second born boys to the city park as an arriving carnival came to town. I believe they were 4 and 5 years old at the time. As we approached the Ferris Wheel ride, they dug in their heels and said, “No, we’re not going on that!” I stood there for a moment as the Ferris Wheel operator watched with a silly grin on his face; got down at “eye level” on my hand and knees and said, “Can you trust me, knowing how much I love you and wouldn’t let anything harm or hurt you?” “Yes dad, we trust you” said in a shaky, not-so-sure voice, each one taking hold of an index finger, one on each side, nearly squeezing off the its circulation, as we boarded the ride. ….And afterwards? “Let’s do it again Dad; yeah, let’s do it again!” And we did, several times.
ALL this came to mind as I read today’s Bible Portal “One Step at a Time.” Heb. 11:8 and the Carnival Ride can pretty much characterize the true Christian Life, at least for me anyway after years of faith discovery out of near continuous uncertainty – “choosing, again and again, to lean into the One who is leading.” This quote also comes to mind:
“My times are in Your hands,” – Psa. 31:15a.
“We may not know what tomorrow holds – but we know Who holds tomorrow in hand.” – CH Spurgeon
So, here is the link to “One Step At A Time” @ Bible Portal.
OH, and one more thing. Whenever I quote Prov 3:5&6, I quote it in reverse order:
Vv6 In all your ways acknowledge Him.
And He shall direct your paths.
Vv5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
Why? ….Well, now it is Prov. 3:6&5, numbering 365 for every day of every year. – Selah
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa 30:15; Job 2:10; Jas. 1:2; Prov. 21:30
