Seeds of the Kingdom 20th May 2023 – God’s Ways, God’s Paths and God’s Truth

I once read an amazing autobiography of a missionary lady who was imprisoned by the Japanese during the war. During the years of imprisonment she was an example to her fellow prisoners of one who hears the still small voice speaking to and guiding her, despite the most terrible experiences of daily life. When she was asked how she was so sure it was the Lord speaking she replied that those who know God hear His voice.

Our verses for today are in the form of a three step prayer, a prayer which leads us to a place of trust and confidence in God, despite any undesirable circumstances that we may face.

‘Show me your ways’ Moses prayed. ‘Teach me your ways so I may know you’ (Exodus 33:13). God’s ways speak of how He works, the principles on which He acts, and His precepts, laid down in Scripture for us to live by. God’s ways speak of His nature, what He’s like, His righteous character, for He always acts according to His character. The Israelites saw miracles in the wilderness but their hearts went astray because they didn’t know God’s ways (Hebrews 3:10). There are my ways and God’s ways. My ways may be good in my own eyes but they may lead me astray to make costly mistakes. Only by knowing God’s ways will my heart be at rest. Knowing God’s ways leads my heart to know Him as He really is.

‘Teach me Your paths’. Ways are broad roads, and we all must travel the same road. Paths are narrow ways which we travel personally as God leads us and deals with us individually. The path God chooses for each of us is a safe path. It’s the path of life. When we pray, ‘Teach me your paths’ we’re asking God to lead us by His Spirit along the path He’s chosen for our life. We can be assured that He will instruct and teach us in the way we should go, the best path for us (Psalm 32:8).

‘Guide me in your truth and teach me’. The obvious reason for this prayer is that without knowing the truth we will be deceived. No-one sets out to be deceived, but without being taught and grounded in the truth of God’s word we’re prone to deception, because we don’t have a secure base for spiritual understanding.

The more we know God’s ways, God’s paths and God’s truth, the less we will feel we need special guidance. Our daily decisions will unconsciously come from a heart relationship of childlike trust in our God who, through Jesus, has revealed Himself as Father.