Following reverently. . .
It truly amazes me that the simple process of reading scripture with the goal of journaling can help me to see things that, on any other day, I would breeze right over and be on my merry way. Today, the Lord stopped me dead in my tracks with Joshua and then illuminated everything else in light of what he showed me…
“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it” (Joshua 3:3-4).
Light bulb goes on—too often I am either running ahead of the Lord or following at whatever distance I desire, at times treating the Lord without true reverence. Moving into the Psalms, the Lord reminds me that “unless He [the Lord] builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1) which again highlights His point to me today…don’t move out ahead of me, daughter. Once again He taps me on the shoulder with “blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways” (Psalm 128: 1). Okay, Lord, I think I’m seeing a theme develop, even though I did not intend to look for one.
At this point, I was eager to follow this line of thought, but was not expecting to be moved with compassion FOR the Lord… “I [the Lord] looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me” (Isaiah 63: 5). Lord, we’ve all been forgetting to keep a reverent distance behind you…running out of ahead of you and getting into big messes (sigh!). BUT “In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them” (Isaiah 63: 9-10). What a roller coaster you’ve been on Lord! If only we could just remember to keep following you reverently!
God, you are so good, for just when I was starting to feel like this goal of following you reverently was too hard, you give me… “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). I think the point has fully sunk in…if I just keep my eyes on Him, He will teach me how to follow reverently. I don’t need to strive to do this in my own understanding. Thank you, Lord.
In His Service,
Sherrie (gueston66books)
Sixty-six books in a year 