Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths
Patient waiting is often the highest way of doing God's will. To Jesus the will of the Father was more important than His necessary food. He waited patiently until He knew what the Father had wanted Him to do. He never panicked whatever the situation, but quietly pondered over to understand what His Father would have done at that time. He -*test*-('")ified, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner" (Jn 5:19). When they ran out of wine in the wedding at Cana, Mary rushed to Jesus and reported the problem. Jesus coolly replied, "My hour has not yet come!" (Jn 2:3,4). In other words, He had not yet heard from His Father what to do and how. It was when the servants relaxed and waited, Jesus began to give instructions (vv 5-8). During the waiting time, Jesus perhaps went around to see what was all available. He found huge waterpots and enough water to fill them! Simultaneously He must have received directions from Above. What an illustration! Our carnal mind desires to know everything and that too instantly. When Saul Paul from the dusty road cried out in amazement, "Lord, what do You want me to do?", the Lord did not give him a blueprint. No package plan! He simply said, "Go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (Acts 9:6). What a humiliating answer to that highminded scholar! But God shows only one step at a time. The first step that God shows us is sometimes so simple that most of us are reluctant to take it, and therefore miss the second step and the entire guidance. With the restoration of the gifts of the Spirit, there's a presumption that one can know everything instantly. This is nothing but the devil's timeless trick: "You will be like God, knowing..." (Gen 3:5). But God's method of revelation and guidance is always "here a little, there a little" (Isa 28:10). This too is promised only to those who take a childlike attitude (v9; Psa 131:2). Many a young person has ruined his or her marriage by an impatient choice. Don't run ahead of God or lag behind. Learn from Him how to rest. His rest is like "a pleasant summer day" and "a lovely autumn morning" (Isa 18:4; Mt 11:28-30). Lead, kindly Light ... one step enough for me!
Patient waiting is often the highest way of doing God's will. To Jesus the will of the Father was more important than His necessary food. He waited patiently until He knew what the Father had wanted Him to do. He never panicked whatever the situation, but quietly pondered over to understand what His Father would have done at that time. He -*test*-('")ified, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner" (Jn 5:19). When they ran out of wine in the wedding at Cana, Mary rushed to Jesus and reported the problem. Jesus coolly replied, "My hour has not yet come!" (Jn 2:3,4). In other words, He had not yet heard from His Father what to do and how. It was when the servants relaxed and waited, Jesus began to give instructions (vv 5-8). During the waiting time, Jesus perhaps went around to see what was all available. He found huge waterpots and enough water to fill them! Simultaneously He must have received directions from Above. What an illustration! Our carnal mind desires to know everything and that too instantly. When Saul Paul from the dusty road cried out in amazement, "Lord, what do You want me to do?", the Lord did not give him a blueprint. No package plan! He simply said, "Go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (Acts 9:6). What a humiliating answer to that highminded scholar! But God shows only one step at a time. The first step that God shows us is sometimes so simple that most of us are reluctant to take it, and therefore miss the second step and the entire guidance. With the restoration of the gifts of the Spirit, there's a presumption that one can know everything instantly. This is nothing but the devil's timeless trick: "You will be like God, knowing..." (Gen 3:5). But God's method of revelation and guidance is always "here a little, there a little" (Isa 28:10). This too is promised only to those who take a childlike attitude (v9; Psa 131:2). Many a young person has ruined his or her marriage by an impatient choice. Don't run ahead of God or lag behind. Learn from Him how to rest. His rest is like "a pleasant summer day" and "a lovely autumn morning" (Isa 18:4; Mt 11:28-30). Lead, kindly Light ... one step enough for me!