Hebrews chapter 4: verses 12-13 (NIV)
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Joel chapter 3: verse 14 (NIV)
Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.
God’s word is indeed living and active. That’s why the blog actually began because I wanted to share that by proving it. God in His grace has done just that. But He is not a dictator. He leaves us to decide how we will respond to what He has to say. And He sees and knows what we decide to do. Sometimes when we have a decision to make, we are impulsive and act without thinking through the consequences, at other times we know straight away what the right thing is to do and we do it without hesitation. At other times, particularly when we need to make a life-changing decision, especially if it doesn’t just affect us, we need to take time for prayer and contemplation. And in such instances, we can often sense the hand of God very close to us. He will guide us and direct us but He won’t force our hand.
People have often such a wrong opinion of God’s character, but to me these verses, both in Hebrews and in Joel, show how much God is interested in us. He misses nothing, and is never surprised, and is always waiting for us to come to Him and follow His ways. He knows what we need to hear and when we need to hear it, and He never wants us to be floundering, that’s when we feel His presence close to us. But He will still leave the decision up to us as to whether we reach for the life-line He throws out to us.
Dear Lord,
I’m so grateful that I never have to be left wondering what to do. Help me to be sensitive and open to what You have to say, but most of all, willing to act on what You tell me. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.