DECEMBER 12, 2024
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)
The faithful Christian will never put his trust in a creature – even the best, holiest, or highest – but in the Lord, who creates. He must be the object of our trust, and in Him only should we find our faith in the Father, as the God of nature and providence. For all temporal blessings and for all eternal happiness and hope, which He has provided, promised, and freely gives.
Trust in Him at all times; in times of affliction, temptation, and darkness, because all power and strength are in Him to help. His love, grace, and mercy move Him to it, and they are always the same. Considering what He has done for others who have trusted in Him in the past and the things done for us now should induce and encourage our hearts. Those who trust in Him are truly happy; they enjoy peace and safety and see His displeasure in those who distrust Him.
Lean on God the Son: in His person for acceptance, in His righteousness for justification, in His blood for pardon, in His power for protection and preservation, and Him alone for salvation and eternal life. We need to lean on God the Spirit to carry on and finish the work of grace on our hearts, and we can be confident that it will be completed where it begins. This trust in Father, Son, and Spirit should be with all your heart, cordial and sincere. Our faith must be genuine; it is not merely a saying but a reality. The declaration should be made with the whole heart.
We can no longer hold to our understanding because it stands opposed to trusting in the Lord. Men should not depend upon their wisdom and knowledge in civil life but should seek the direction and blessing of God and His providence. Man’s knowledge is darkened by sin, much like the first earth was covered with darkness until the light was let into it by the Lord, and therefore not to depend on. The word of God is our rule of judgment and the standard of our faith and practice. We must be directed by it and not “lean unto [our] own understanding.”
We should always acknowledge the Lord and keep Him in view, taking no step without His leave or advice. Daily, we must consult His word and make the Scriptures our counselors. God needs to be our guide so we may walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. We will acknowledge that all we have is from Him, in good and bad.
We can’t be wise in our understanding to act independently of God or avoid seeking His help and direction. Instead, we should fear the Lord and flee evil. Fear of the Lord opposes human pride and vain conceit. Fearing the Lord includes reverence for God, dependence on Him, and seeking His direction in everything. We must also run from all evil to avoid sin and abstain from all appearances of it. Our only hope is to lean on God and His understanding while avoiding pride.
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