Sunday, March 5, 2017

Successful Or Godly?

March 5 (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)


If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, “Let us go after other gods,” which you have not known, “and let us serve them,” you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your Godis testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  (ESV)


You have a flat tire.  What do you do?  You could call roadside assistance for a tow.  You could put on your spare.  You could use a patch kit you keep with you.  You could run across the highway, sneak into a neighborhood, steal a tire from someone else, return to your vehicle, hold up another motorist at gunpoint, force him to put the stolen tire on your car, and go on your merry way.  There is nearly an infinite number of ways to do anything, but which one is right?

A method that leads to success may not be one that honors God.  A popular, tried and true way of doing something, one that everyone else thinks is a good idea, may not be what God wants.  We live in an increasingly godless age.  Strategies and programs in our schools, our businesses, and our governments may indeed produce results and get success, yet do they honor God in the process?  Worse still, is there some aspect of them that actually leads people away from God?

Hopefully we try to make decisions for our lives based on scriptural principles.  But what about out in the world?  Will we follow the plan that the board or committee comes up with, even if it stands opposed to His word?  What if it is our supervisor’s idea?   What if it is the way they have always done things in our child’s school or sports team?  Will we love God more than a successful idea?


Jesus, there are so many things that look good and seem right.  May the Holy Spirit guide me to see which ones truly are.  Help me to have the strength to do what is right the way You did when You stood up to the leaders of Your day, even though it cost You Your life.  Amen.


Copyright © 2017 by Steven R. Perkins

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