Psalm 32:8-11
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
The psalmist taught us to obey God, because He will instruct us and guide us all our life and He will show us the way we should go. God will also counsel us with his loving eyes, so that we can take every step in the way in His will. We sometimes are like horses that run ahead of God. Sometimes we dash forward without waiting for God speaking to us. It's like back in the time of Samuel, when King Saul was waiting for Samuel to offer the sacrifice, but Samuel didn't show up on time, so Saul offered the sacrifice himself. Samuel arrived as soon as Saul was done, and Saul realized that he didn't the wrong thing, because back in the Old Testament time only priests could offer sacrifice. Saul simply got impatient and went ahead of God. Aren't we often like that? When things are urgent, we always think: "God, I can't wait for you anymore, I must do it now! I still have strength and ideas, so I'm going to take care of it in my own way," but we end up messing things up even more. May the Lord help us not to be like horses that run ahead of God.
May the Lord also help us not to be like mules and refuse to move forward. Sometimes we're like mules that don't obey God before Him, and we often need to be disciplined by God. May the Spirit of God help us, help us to see that God is happy to guide us. Brothers and sisters, God is willing to keep His eyes on us and counsel us, but we need to ask God for a humble and soft heart, not to be like horses that run ahead of God, but also not to be like mules that stay behind and refuse to go, not following God closely. May God help us to be humble servants; when God speaks to us, we shall follow. Verse 10 says that "Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him." When we don't obey God, we will suffer woes, because God's blessing and grace cannot come upon us, and we can't experience how God will make way for us. Therefore, our hearts are filled with complaints and bitterness. Those who obey God, however, will be surrounded by love and grace, because God will make way for them!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, we once again ask you to give us a humble and soft heart. Let us obey you, not run ahead of you or stay behind and refuse to move forward, but to follow you closely. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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