Good morning!
Text: Deuteronomy 27-30; Psalm 48
Some years ago I was struggling with a big life decision – whether to pursue pastoral ministry. It was late at night and I was in the car with the radio tuned to a Christian station. The show was about one of today’s verses, Deuteronomy 29:29, and this verse spoke to me with power, then and now –
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the wordsof this law.
The truth in this verse is marvelous. It says that the secret things belong to God – things like the knowledge of the future or what is truly in the heart of another person. But He has given us the “things that are revealed” in His Word. So – when we have decisions to make, like what career to pursue or what girl to marry, we cannot expect God to show us how it is all going to turn out. Instead, he gives us clear instructions for everyday life (don’t steal, don’t dishonor Mom or Dad, “let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth”, “do not be unequally yoked, and “love one another”, etc.).
Basically, we just need to walk in His ways with obedience and integrity in all things, large and small, and trust the big outcomes to Him. Simple? Absolutely. Easy? No, this is difficult – in two ways. First, obedience to God’s law is not in our nature. And, trusting Him to take care of us is also a struggle for many. But one thing I get from this is that a bunch of high anxiety about a big decision is a waste of time as long as the choice I make is in line with his Word. That reality makes things easier, I think.
in Him, Mike