Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness…
Make your way straight before me.
Psalm 5:8 (ESV)
Series Focus: “Let There Be Light”
A few summers back, our family went tent-camping at Lake Michigan. Our tent-site was a bit away from the restrooms. Unfortunately, in the middle of the night, I needed to utilize the facilities. The night was pitch-black—no twinkling stars or glow of the moon, due to heavy cloud cover. The bathroom displayed a brilliant light, clearly marking my haven. However, the path from the tent to my destination was indecipherable. Thankfully, I had a flashlight to illuminate my path.
We read an account in the Bible where God shone His light to reveal the path the people should travel. As God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, the Red Sea parted, the Israelites crossed on dry ground, and God led them by cloud and fire.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people (Exodus 13:21-22).
God revealed the way and ensured the safety of the Israelites by shining His Light in the deep darkness of night. His presence continued with them every step of the journey. He never left them. He never forsake them. He saw the Israelites through to their destination at the Promised Land. He does the same for us.
We all may face deep darkness in our lives: physically, emotionally, and perhaps even spiritually—as our faith is tried and tested by life’s circumstances. The situations may cause confusion, fear of the unknown, missteps, paralysis, or destruction. However, we don’t have to become lost in despair and succumb to that place of darkness. Like David, we can cry out:
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation (Psalm 25:4-5).
God is Light. He sent His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, encourages us to continually look unto Jesus, the perfecter of our faith, and reminds us God will never leave us. He is with us always. Isaiah exhorts us to know that the Teacher will not hide Himself from us, but will reveal to us the way we should go. Jesus is our Teacher—the way, the truth, the life—lighting the way we are to go.
The challenge before each of us is this: Are we only looking upon the brilliant light shining from our destination point of Heaven, groping in gross darkness, unsure of each step along the way? Or, have we laid hold of our “flashlight,” allowing God to alight our path as we journey through our days on earth? Let’s commit anew to seek God in His Word, allowing Him to light the way we are to go day-by-day and moment-by-moment.
Hold Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Exodus 13:21, 14:20; Nehemiah 9:12,19; Psalm 5:8, 25:5, 119:35; Isaiah 30:20-21; John 14:6, 16:13; Hebrews 12:1-2, 13:5; 1 John 1:5
