Following Wherever He Leads
“I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself,
(The Book of Jeremiah 10: 23 NASB)
Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.”
What decisions make us pause and turn to God? Is it only the BIG ones (career moves, marriage, children, life plans, educational goals), OR do we seek the Lord even in the small decisions too (what to eat, where to spend money, which roads to drive, calendar choices for our days)?
The decisions of God’s children, both big and small are important to God. We are His sheep; He is our Shepherd.
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
(The Gospel According to John 10: 11 NASB)
- Is that not exactly what Jesus did for humanity when He gave His life on the cross of Calvary to pay the penalty of our sin?
- Is that not exactly the reason God sent His only Son?
Therefore, we are God’s sheep, and Christ Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Just as with all shepherds, their main task is to lead their sheep, because (as we know) sheep are not great at avoiding danger. It appears as if sheep wander right into dangerous places, while their head looks toward the ground, and as they continue to eat. In fact, a dangerous wolf can infiltrate directly into the field where the sheep exist, and the sheep will not even notice the enemy there beside them (at least not until the enemy attacks). Thus, sheep need a shepherd, and ”the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
- Believers in Jesus must look to the Lord Jesus to lead their daily steps through His Holy Spirit, for through His Spirit, we hear God speak.
- Followers of Jesus must daily study His Word to help them discern the way they are to go.
- Christians must pray daily to know the path and the steps Jesus leads them to take.
“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep.
(The Gospel According to John 10: 14-15 & 27-30 NASB)
. . .
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”
Therefore, should ALL life decisions make us pause and turn to God?
YES, they should. Jesus does not “drive” us to our decisions as a cattle herder drives his cattle; the Lord leads us as ”the good shepherd.” Just as the high priest went in before the LORD for the people, Jesus sits near the Father interceding for His sheep. It is us who must enter prayer, seeking the way the Lord would have us go, following wherever He leads. “a man’s way is not in himself,”
Our task is to keep our eyes on Jesus, to seek His will, to serve as He leads, and praise Him with both our actions and our lips throughout every day.