The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever -- do not abandon the works of your hands. -- Psalm 137 : 8
Many are the plans in a man's heart but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. -- Proverbs 22 : 6

Monday, February 6, 2012

Doing It God's Way

Ever gotten directions on how to go some where and thought, "that sounds good, but I think I will just do it my way",  only to soon discover that your way wasn't so good after all?  A few wrong turns and you discover you are way off course and where you are isn't where you want to be.  


We have this thing about living the way we want, (it all started in the garden),  but the Bible is very specific on how we are supposed to live.  There is only one way, and that is GOD'S way.  Leviticus 18 : 4 - 5 quotes God as saying:  "You must obey ALL my regulations and be careful to obey my decrees, for I am the LORD your God. If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find LIFE through them. I am the LORD". 


The book of Leviticus is a guidebook to the children of Israel on how to do things God's way.  We might read it and think, "Really, God, did you have to go into all of this detail?"  It is very specific, giving regulations on daily living to annual celebrations.  God didn't leave anything in doubt.  As we read what God required,  some of His purposes are easy to understand --  like maintaining  hygiene and containing contagious diseases -- and others might not make sense to us at all.  But God made it clear:  Israel was to do everything exactly as He said.


There is a benefit to doing things God's way that is explained in Leviticus 26: 3 - 12:  "If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops . . . I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid... Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.  I will look on you with favor ..."


Provision.  Peace.  Favor.  What amazing promises are given to those who obey God!


There was a song made famous years ago entitled "My Way".  In it, the song writer describes reaching the end and being able to say say he did things his way.  How sad.  Proverbs 14 : 12 says:  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  


Doing it my way.  Death.  Doing it God's way -- Provision, peace, favor, LIFE!   I want to live my live so that I can say:  I did it GOD"S WAY!















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