February 1 I Saturday

Exodus 27-28

Matthew 21:1-22

“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.”
—Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

If we were to ask Christians what they would like most from God, many would ask for guidance. Every day we face decisions, some small and unimportant but others that may significantly alter our lives. No one wants to make a wrong decision, so how do we make a right decision?

There are many ways in which God guides His people in Scripture and there is no simple formula. If there were, we would probably superimpose that formula on every situation and leave God out in the process. When Solomon took over the throne of Israel, God said to him, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). This was a blank cheque God was offering. Solomon admitted to being young and not knowing how to carry out his duties as the king of such a great nation. He said to God, “Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give Your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong” (1 Kings 3:8-9).

There are two aspects to notice in Solomon’s response. Firstly, He sees himself not as a king but as a servant of God. Secondly, his request was not for power, riches or fame that would benefit him personally, but to be a good and wise servant in ruling God’s people. The Lord was pleased with Solomon’s request, and He answers, “I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” But God adds this condition, “And if you walk in obedience to Me and keep My decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life” (1 Kings 3:12, 14).

Everything in the Christian life grows out of our relationship with God. To see ourselves as anything other than a servant of God, we will tend to lean on our own understanding, which inevitably leads to depending on our own resources. Our constant disposition towards God needs to be one of trust and dependence on Him, which is derived from daily communion with Him. We will then realize an essential truth of the Gospel in that it is not our job to get ourselves guided. If we acknowledge God in all our ways He has automatically undertaken to guide us. He determines our course and will speak to our hearts in a way unique to each of us. When we bring God in, we rest in the fact that whatever happens will be God’s will and purpose for us.

Prayer: Almighty God, help me not to lean on my own understanding, but to bring You into every situation. Train me to discern Your voice, so that I may follow Your leading. Thank You, Lord.