Week of Monday November 18 – November 24
Right Way - Man as Provider
O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. - Hosea 14:8-9 ESV
This passage about the right way reminded me of an article by Owen Edwards titled “A Compass Saves the Crew.” Edwards tells the story of a WWII sailor who provided life-giving direction, enabling some of his crew to survive the sinking of their ship. The USS Alcoa was struck by a German submarine. While the ship was taking on water and the lifeboats deployed, Waldemar Semenov, a Russian immigrant serving as a junior engineer, had the presence of mind to grab three loaves of bread from the galley and find a compass to guide them. Using the small compass on the lifeboat, the survivors sailed west by northwest toward the shipping lanes. After three days, a patrol plane spotted Semenov's lifeboat, and they were rescued the next day by the USS Broome, an American destroyer. Without that compass, they wouldn’t have made it.
The Word of God functions like a compass, always pointing us the right way, the way to life. And those who are wise and discerning would do well to follow His way. In fact, the prophet makes this distinction: “the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them” (verse 9). As we read on in Hosea, we find that the Creator patiently pleads with Israel to return to Him. Yet they continue in their disobedience in spite of His mercy and love. God graciously showed them the right ways, but they stumbled instead of humbly submitting to His instruction and following His direction.
The problem with us men at times is that we refuse to ask for directions, even when we know that we are lost. This extends to our spiritual lives: we refuse to ask directions from the One who always knows the right way to take.
Again, Hosea declares that “the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them.” Because life is comprised of a series of decisions we make and directions we take, it is incredibly important that we be led by the Lord and not by ourselves alone. As Proverbs 16:25 reminds us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Asking God for direction is always the best advice to follow. As Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Your relationship with the Lord is the key. Oswald Chambers once wrote, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” And for good reason, as Hosea records in verse 8: “It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.” Idols are do-nothing frauds. The Living God answers our prayers, looks after us, and provides for us. As we love and serve the Lord God, He will always faithfully direct our paths and enable us, in turn, to provide life-giving direction to those we love and lead. May He who is faithful to provide direction find us faithful in pointing others the right way!
- How are you receiving spiritual direction as a man of God amidst all the seductive messaging from the godless and hostile world in which we live? Are you in God’s Word daily? Text “Bible” to 67742 to get the Stand on the Word daily Bible reading plan.
- On a scale from one to 10, how would you rate yourself on providing spiritual direction to those you love and lead? Do your children and grandchildren look to you to point them the right way?
- Ask the Lord to equip you to faithfully, consistently, and winsomely communicate His right way.
Right Way - Man as Provider
O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. - Hosea 14:8-9 ESV
This passage about the right way reminded me of an article by Owen Edwards titled “A Compass Saves the Crew.” Edwards tells the story of a WWII sailor who provided life-giving direction, enabling some of his crew to survive the sinking of their ship. The USS Alcoa was struck by a German submarine. While the ship was taking on water and the lifeboats deployed, Waldemar Semenov, a Russian immigrant serving as a junior engineer, had the presence of mind to grab three loaves of bread from the galley and find a compass to guide them. Using the small compass on the lifeboat, the survivors sailed west by northwest toward the shipping lanes. After three days, a patrol plane spotted Semenov's lifeboat, and they were rescued the next day by the USS Broome, an American destroyer. Without that compass, they wouldn’t have made it.
The Word of God functions like a compass, always pointing us the right way, the way to life. And those who are wise and discerning would do well to follow His way. In fact, the prophet makes this distinction: “the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them” (verse 9). As we read on in Hosea, we find that the Creator patiently pleads with Israel to return to Him. Yet they continue in their disobedience in spite of His mercy and love. God graciously showed them the right ways, but they stumbled instead of humbly submitting to His instruction and following His direction.
The problem with us men at times is that we refuse to ask for directions, even when we know that we are lost. This extends to our spiritual lives: we refuse to ask directions from the One who always knows the right way to take.
Again, Hosea declares that “the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them.” Because life is comprised of a series of decisions we make and directions we take, it is incredibly important that we be led by the Lord and not by ourselves alone. As Proverbs 16:25 reminds us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Asking God for direction is always the best advice to follow. As Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Your relationship with the Lord is the key. Oswald Chambers once wrote, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” And for good reason, as Hosea records in verse 8: “It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.” Idols are do-nothing frauds. The Living God answers our prayers, looks after us, and provides for us. As we love and serve the Lord God, He will always faithfully direct our paths and enable us, in turn, to provide life-giving direction to those we love and lead. May He who is faithful to provide direction find us faithful in pointing others the right way!
- How are you receiving spiritual direction as a man of God amidst all the seductive messaging from the godless and hostile world in which we live? Are you in God’s Word daily? Text “Bible” to 67742 to get the Stand on the Word daily Bible reading plan.
- On a scale from one to 10, how would you rate yourself on providing spiritual direction to those you love and lead? Do your children and grandchildren look to you to point them the right way?
- Ask the Lord to equip you to faithfully, consistently, and winsomely communicate His right way.