Tues Devo: His ways

Hello,

There is nothing like a work assignment with 3 other coworkers (or a house project with 1 spouse perhaps) to illustrate that people approach things differently! We have our way of doing things. We will often say “the way I like to do this is ______”. Whether that is humorous or frustrating – it is telling. It tells us things about the other people. The way we do things speaks to our perspective, biases, starting assumptions, trust etc. Too bad we are often too caught up in the frustration or humor to always use that chance to learn more about the people in our lives!

The same can be said for God. I confidently assert that I would like Him to do things some other way in my life many times. Sure, we could dwell on the fact that it is not our way – but what if we were to focus on watching what His ways were, and using that to learn about Him?

In Isaiah 55:8-10, God says ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (NASB)

It starts with admitting that He knows what He is doing. His ways are higher – they are the right thing. It must start there for us to be in the right frame of mind to learn. If we do not believe the person we are observing is better at something than us, we aren’t there to learn – but to critique.

I found 2 other passages that speak well to learning about God by looking at His ways and following them:

In Exodus 33:12-13 Moses recognizes this – “Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people.” (NASB)

Then, in Deuteronomy10:12-13 this is taken from just knowing the ways of God, to God instructing us to follow in His ways “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” (NASB)

Following and imitating the ways of God is not just for us to know Him better – but it also is what sets the example for others to see who may not know God….after all, to get to know someone, you can watch their ways.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill