"...Make Your way before me." Psalm 5:8
"Beam me up!"
This escape clause was often used by the hero in the TV and movie
series. Instantly he would evaporate from one location to reappear
in the safety of the "mother ship." Many times in my Christian life, I've wanted to escape danger by immediate
removal; I've felt the mission
accomplished and ready to return home. I
ponder, why I am in still on earth. As much as I'd like this declaration,
"Beam me up!", to be a
metaphor for my relationship with God, it's really the opposite.
Instead of the ability to escape life, Psalm 5 reminds me how to live while I still
roam this Earth. I am learning to living
the 3G Way.
Psalm 5 reveals the intimate relationship between David and
God. David acknowledges that God listens
to his requests. God is faithful. David
waits in anticipation. He knows God cannot
be defeated. He knows God's enemies are
liars. David knows to take refuge in
God's protection.
Each morning I wake to live in a world that tells me how to
live: To follow the popular thinkers of
the day, to get ahead of everyone I can, to accumulate and to satisfy my
desires any way I choose.
David's view of God, faithful, true, undefeatable and safe, reminds me how to approach this day in my
life. "...Make straight your way before me." (Verse 8)
I circle the words "Your...before me". Perhaps that is my guidance for the day.
I count the word "my" (because it refers to David)
in Psalm 5 - 7 times.
Then I count "You and Your" (because they refer to
God or O Lord, as David addresses Him) -17 times.
If I use the basis of sheer numbers, this Psalm gives me
guidance for living on Earth: Your ...before
me. Psalm 5 is a glimpse into the
heart of David and how he reacts to God:
His before his; God before David;
The Lord before me. The absolute opposite principle to the
worldly teaching.
What if I followed the principle of "His way before my
way" for my daily life?
The book I am currently reading reminds me that I have a
singular purpose as a follower of Jesus: to bring God, and God alone, glory by
participating in His mission. I am not
in charge of His mission. He is. I don't
have to develop His mission. He has The
Plan and He has had The Plan since the beginning of time! I have the opportunity to daily live for His
mission.
Here's an idea for a new bracelet to assist me when I make
the myriad of choices in my daily life:
W.W.G.G.G.
W hat
W ould
G ive
G od
G lory?
Sounds like a plan! Today
I choose to live the 3G Way. Whew! Decisions made for the day!
In my subconscious I have my doubts. I'm human and prone to failure. That worldly teaching is so tempting. It's quick and immediate gratification. Yet God's way is lasting and is eternal
gratification.
Thank you O Lord, You
knows me so well and You love me in
spite of my failure. You even rescued me
and will continue to rescue me just
because You loves me.
Now that is something to Give God Glory! Hopefully today others will see God's Glory,
not my glory. It's why I haven't been
beamed up yet!
