“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” – Psalm 32:8 (NIV)
In this verse, we are given a beautiful promise from God: that He will be our guide, our teacher, and our counselor, leading us in the path we should take.
Need for Guidance
Life’s journey is often filled with uncertainty, confusion, and difficult choices. We can easily lose our way, stumbling through the darkness without a clear sense of direction.
But we are not alone in this journey. God, in His infinite wisdom and love, offers to guide us.
Wisdom of God’s Counsel
God’s guidance is not a mere set of instructions or a map to follow blindly. It is a personal, loving counsel that takes into account our unique circumstances and needs.
With His loving eye upon us, God offers wisdom that is tailored to our specific situation, helping us navigate the complexities of life.
Path of Trust
To receive God’s guidance, we must cultivate a heart of trust. We must be willing to surrender our own limited understanding and lean on His wisdom.
As we walk in obedience and faith, God will illuminate the path before us, step by step, leading us into the fullness of His plan.
It takes humility to recognize our need for divine guidance and the courage to trust in God’s wisdom as we journey through life. For in doing so, we can experience the joy and peace of walking in the path He has prepared for us.
“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” – John 17:4 (NIV)
In this powerful statement from Jesus, we see the culmination of His earthly ministry.
He declares that He has completed the task assigned to Him by the Father, bringing glory to God through His obedience and sacrifice.
Purpose Revealed
From the very beginning, Jesus had a clear sense of purpose and mission.
He came to earth not merely to teach or perform miracles, but to fulfill a specific work – the redemption of humanity through His death and resurrection.
Example Set
As followers of Christ, we too have been given a purpose and a mission.
Just as Jesus lived a life of absolute obedience to the Father’s will, we are called to align our lives with God’s plan and to seek to bring Him glory through our actions and choices.
Ongoing Work
While Christ’s work on the cross is complete, the mission to proclaim the good news and make disciples continues.
We are now the hands and feet of Christ in the world, carrying on the work that He began. As we surrender ourselves fully to God’s purposes, we can find true meaning and fulfillment in our lives.
May you, like Jesus, be able to say at the end of your days that you have finished the work God gave you to do. May your life be a testament to His glory, as you faithfully pursue His purposes.
“The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.”Ezekiel 18:20
Context
This verse comes from a chapter in which the prophet Ezekiel addresses a common proverb among the exiled Israelites: “The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” (Ezekiel 18:2)
This proverb implies that the children are suffering for the sins of their ancestors, and that God is unjust in punishing them. Ezekiel rejects this proverb and declares that God judges each person according to their own deeds, not according to their family history.
He also affirms that God does not delight in the death of the wicked, but rather desires them to repent and live. (Ezekiel 18:23)
The Message
What can we learn from this verse and its context? First, we can learn that God is fair and righteous. He does not hold us accountable for the sins of others, nor does He let us off the hook for our own sins.
He evaluates us individually, based on our choices and actions. He does not show favoritism or partiality, but treats everyone equally and impartially. He is the perfect judge, who knows everything and sees everything.
Second, we can learn that we are responsible and accountable. We cannot blame our parents, our children, our circumstances, or anyone else for our sins.
We cannot rely on our heritage, our status, our achievements, or anyone else for our righteousness. We have to face the consequences of our own decisions and actions.
We have to answer to God for our own lives. We have to repent and obey God for our own salvation.
Third, we can learn that God is gracious and merciful. He does not want us to perish, but to live.
He does not take pleasure in our suffering, but in our joy. He does not condemn us, but offers us forgiveness.
He does not reject us, but welcomes us. He does not leave us, but helps us. He does not give up on us, but restores us. He does not hate us, but loves us.
Application
How can we apply this verse and its message to our lives? Here are some suggestions:
• Examine yourself. Ask God to search your heart and reveal any sin that you need to confess and forsake. Do not justify, rationalize, or minimize your sin, but admit it and repent of it.
Do not compare yourself with others, but measure yourself by God’s standards. Do not presume on God’s grace, but appreciate it and respond to it.
• Trust God. Believe that God is fair and righteous, and that He will judge you and others according to His justice.
Do not doubt, question, or resent God’s ways, but accept them and submit to them. Do not fear, worry, or despair about God’s wrath, but hope in His mercy and love.
• Follow God. Obey God’s commands and do what is right in His sight. Do not rebel, disobey, or compromise with sin, but resist it and overcome it. Do not conform, imitate, or follow the world, but be transformed and renewed by God’s Spirit.
Do not seek, love, or serve the things of this world, but seek, love, and serve God and His kingdom.
The soul that sins shall die, but the soul that repents and believes shall live. This is the message of Ezekiel 18:20, and this is the message of the gospel. Let us heed it and live by it.
