Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, March 7, 2019
Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-03-07-2019
This is devotional thought number 39 in our devotional series, “Stewarding the Heart.”
“For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” (Exodus 40:38).
There are wonderful lessons concerning the leading of God in the Bible. He has been faithful in giving specific direction to His people so they know exactly what He would have them do.
God told Abraham to leave his kindred and go to a place He would reveal later, and Abraham followed. God told Noah to build an ark on dry land to prepare for a flood during a time when rain had never fallen upon the earth before, and he listened. The Lord called out to young Samuel in the quiet of the night, and he said, “Speak Lord, your servant heareth.” God told the prophet Nathaniel to go to King David with a corrective message, and again, God’s man followed His direction.
The Lord wants us to follow wherever He leads, even when we do not understand what He is doing. When God directed Moses to build a dwelling place for Him to tabernacle with the people, He gave them a visible sign of His guidance. A pillar of cloud by day and fire by night were, in a sense, God’s signals of leadership. “And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.” (Exodus 40:36, 37). They knew that the only way for them to know where the Lord intended to lead them and to be protected from the elements, was to move only when the Lord signified in the sky, that they should.
We may not have clear signs in the sky like clouds and fire. We may never hear an audible voice tell us exactly what we must do, but we do have a way to know God’s will for our lives. When we want to know the will of God, we can find it by prayerfully studying His word. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17).
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.” (Psalms 119:9-12). When we seek the Lord diligently through His word, the Holy Ghost will reveal the will of God to us. It is a blessing to know that the Lord is still leading His people today. It is indeed a blessing to be directed by God.
Welcome to the privilege of becoming faithful stewards of your hearts. Manage responsibly, in Jesus’ name.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)
#theproestisnotover #stewardingtheheart