April 24 I Monday

2 Samuel 19-20

Luke 18:1-23

“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)

Years ago, at a state high school in England, I asked a group of non-Christian students this question: “Suppose God existed and He could tell you what to do from now until the day you die, and you did it, what kind of life do you think you would have?”

       The students were silent at first, but then one girl spoke up and said, “Eeww, that would be dreadful!” Another said it sounded pretty dull and boring. Another student wondered if that meant he had to become a monk. The only positive response came from a boy who remarked, “Well, I suppose at least you wouldn’t do anything wrong.” Then someone else added, “But then you wouldn’t have any fun!”

       These negative responses are not only representative of non-Christians, but Christians as well. If we completely surrender our lives to God, we have no idea of what will happen and that leaves us apprehensive and insecure. Many people have an underlying fear that what we like, God will not, and what God likes, we will not. God is not like that at all. He is our greatest friend who knows us better than we know ourselves.

       A big problem we have is that we feel undeserving of God actually giving us something we would love and enjoy. This is because we do not know God well enough, and as a result, are not entirely trusting of Him. Paul writes, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Timothy 1:12). Far from being insecure, entrusting our lives to God is the most secure thing we will ever do, and the kind of life we will have will be adventurous, exciting and better than anything we could orchestrate ourselves.

       But it is a partnership lived in union with Jesus Christ. Our end is to acknowledge Him in all our ways, which is to live with truth, integrity and faith in Him. God’s end is to direct our paths. It will not always be smooth sailing, as there is something to be gained from every obstacle, but we will discover the right doors opening at the right time.

       David writes, “All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). This applies to all of us, and if we could read that book, would we be thrilled or filled with regret? God gives each of us the opportunity to trust Him, to submit our lives to Him, and it is never too late to be thrilled with what is written in that book.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for all our young people today to trust You to direct their lives and enjoy a richly gratifying life in partnership with You. Thank You, Lord.