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by Precarious Yates
The last album that Christian artist Rich Mullins made before he passed away was a demo he recorded ten days before he died (The Jesus Record, demo, 1997). One of those songs, Nothing Is Beyond You, which is based on Psalm 139, has these lyrics: “You stand beyond the reach of … our misguided piety…” This line got me thinking while I was meditating on scripture and how to respond to a certain situation.
There was someone who asked for monetary help. While I wanted to see this person achieve his goal, I knew that helping this person would cause serious issues. I also knew that if I asked two trusted counselors for advice, I would receive opposite feedback. That would put me right back where I started. I decided to ask God directly what the godly behavior is in this situation.
I could tell you the answer the Holy Spirit gave, but that would defeat what I sense the Holy Spirit was teaching me and wants to share through this circumstance. The Holy Spirit wanted me to hear directly instead of rely on what people say.
There are so many instances in the Bible where people could have guessed what to do by the scriptures that were handed to them, but instead they spoke directly to the Author of both these scriptures their faith. In Nehemiah 2, the king asked Nehemiah why he was so forlorn. He could have spoken with his compatriots before he responded. I know I would have needed some good counsel if a king asked me a question like that and I was in Nehemiah’s position, living as an exile. Sometimes when you are in a different country, you can guess the culture wrong. I’ve done this more than once, having visited multiple countries, continents and cultures. But Nehemiah stopped and prayed. When he prayed, Nehemiah listened for the response. Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly what God said to Nehemiah, but it tells us that Nehemiah found favor with the king.
It’s difficult to discern what might be the right and pious thing to do in every situation. God knows we cannot find the answer on our own. But we can find the answer in Him. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we all are called into this kind of relationship with the Lord. The writer of Hebrews drew this quote from Jeremiah about the same subject:
Hebrews 8:11
“And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.”
We can all find the wisdom we need exactly when we need it. Reach out today and ask! James 1:5 says:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
He won’t chastise you for not knowing what to do. He knows us and delights to help us.
Have a blessed month of May!
Precarious Yates
About the Author:
Precarious Yates has lived in 8 different states of the Union and 3 different countries, but currently lives in Texas with her husband, her daughter and their big dogs. When she’s not writing, she enjoys music, teaching, playing on jungle gyms, praying and reading. She holds a Masters in the art of making tea and coffee and a PhD in Slinky® disentangling.
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