Are we in sync with God's ways?

Image: Pixabay

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Psalm 95:1-11

TO CHEW ON: “For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts
And they do not know My ways.’” Psalm 95:10

Here we have a sobering indictment of the Israelites by God Himself. We pause and re-read, for any quality or action that grieves God [the word grieves is qut—to loathe, be grieved, feel a loathing or disgust for] is worth our close attention.

We know the story this passage refers to of the Israelites and how, on the doorstep of Canaan, they refused to put their faith in Yahweh, who had showed up for them countless times already on their trek from Egypt to Kadesh Barnea. Instead, they followed the advice of the ten faithless spies, balked at entering the land, and sealed their fate of wandering in the desert for 38 more years (Numbers 13 & 14).

For them it all started privately, we might even say innocently, enough “in their hearts.” However, a life lived habitually by the dictates of one's own heart (which could include the intellect, self-will, common sense, for the approval of others) led them, in the end, to an ignorance of God’s ways.

So how could the Israelites, how can we adjust the true north of our hearts to please God instead of grieve Him? How do we live in sync with instead of ignorant of His ways? For starters we need to:

Cultivate faith:
The biggie for the Israelites—and often for us too—is lack of faith.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” - Hebrews 11:6.

Model our lives on Jesus:
We please God when we observe, listen to, and pattern our lives on Jesus, of whom God the Father said: “‘This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him’” - Matthew 17:5.

Do good with generosity:
“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” - Hebrews 13:6

PRAYER: Dear Father, please change my heart from loving and following my own ways to living by faith. I want to become a person who knows Your ways. Amen

 *********
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.