Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©
Who is wise? He will realize these things.
Who is discerning? He will understand them.
The ways of the LORD are right;
the righteous walk in them,
but the rebellious stumble in them.
(Hosea 14:9 (NIV))
I have one simple question to ask, but your answer may cause some personal reflection and hopefully, it will be honest.
Do you walk or do you stumble?
If you are like me, you probably desire to say that you walk in the ways of the Lord, but, be honest. We all have times that we stumble. We all have times that we fall short of God’s desires and our own. The difference between those who desire to walk and those who stumble is just that – it is their desire. It is their priority.
Let me ask another question for you to consider.
Does a professional basketball player always hit the three pointer? It is their desire, but they often miss the mark. That does not mean that they are intentionally stumbling. It simply means that they are not capable of such a task. Now, does a person who professes a belief in Jesus as their Lord and Savior always do what Jesus would have them do. I know that in my frail humanity, I am not capable of it, yet I still try just as the basketball player still tries to make the three point shot. Sometimes I will fail, but the times that I succeed, I give praise where praise is due.
For those who profess a faith in Jesus, the failed attempts are not the same thing as when a rebellious person stumbles. Perhaps it would be better to put it this way. A rebellious nature is knowing that you aren’t supposed to do something, yet you do it anyway. There is no attempt at having a desire to do what is right. To a rebellious person, placing what is right and true in their path will only make them lash out and bring attention to the fact that they have no desire to follow what is right.
A rebellious person does not desire to walk. They desire to stumble.
With that in mind, let me rephrase my initial question like this.
What do you desire? Do you long to walk in the ways of the Lord, or do you desire to stumble against God in an attempt to avoid Him?
Copyright 1998 – 2012 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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