Aug 27

Must our soul come to ruin in order for us to know the truth, to know that we must surrender that soul to Jesus in order for it to be saved?

It does not have to be that way. God does take people through hard times, at times, in order for them to learn what they need to learn about living their lives for him instead of for themselves. Sometimes that is the only way God can get through to them.

But must it necessarily be so? Is it not possible to learn simply by paying heed to God's Word, without the necessity for experiencing difficult circumstances which bring the truths of that Word to our attention in what are often painful ways?

It is. Scripture itself affirms that, like any loving father, our heavenly Father would rather that we simply hear him speak to us and obey, rather than have to resort to sometimes painful discipline in order for us to be molded by him into the person we should be. It is better to listen and obey than to have to submit to some other way.

Psalm 32:8 says that God will instruct us and teach us in the way that we should go. But if we refuse to submit to this gentler form of instruction, then God, because he loves us, must resort to a firmer form of teaching us, through painful experiences. The next verse chides us for having to undergo these more resolute measures:

"Do not be like the horse or the mule which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle" (v. 9).

If we do not submit to God's truth simply by hearing and obeying, then we are more like animals without understanding. We were formed to be more than that.

Scripture for today: Job 33; Psalm 32:8, 9
Thought for today: To refuse to learn from God's Word is to be like a dumb animal.
Prayer for today: I don't want to be an animal, Lord. You made me a higher creation than that. Help me to pay attention and obey when you speak to me.

AUG 27