Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning (Proverbs 9:9).
At the beginning of the year, the Lord said to us that 2014 is our “Year of Greatness.” There’re certain things you have to know to function in greatness as the Lord has said. One of them is holding fast to instructions. Heeding divine instructions is an integral path to greatness.
Joshua 3 tells us how the Israelites camped by the Jordan, waiting to cross the river. There, God spoke to Joshua, Moses’ successor, who was charged with the task of leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land. The Lord said to him, “…This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee” (Joshua 3:7). Then, in the very next verse, He gave Joshua an important instruction: “And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan” (Joshua 3:8).
Proverbs 4:13 says, “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.” Often times, God’s instructions may not sound logical, just like when He told Isaac, to stay back in Gerar at a time of famine and hardship. Everyone else was moving to Egypt, but God instructed Isaac to stay where he was.
Isaac heeded and prospered in that land, in the same year of drought and famine. Genesis 26:13 tells us that he waxed great, made progress, grew until he became very great. He prospered so much that the Philistines envied him. God’s ways are different from man’s ways and that’s why it’s important to listen and follow His instructions and counsel. Never try to reason out His instructions in your head, for His wisdom is greater than man’s wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:25 tells us, “…the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Think about that.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for teaching me the importance of responding quickly to your instructions and counsel. I wholeheartedly follow and respond to the guidance from your Word and the Holy Spirit on every detail of my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Proverbs 4:13
Living Bible (TLB)
13 Carry out my instructions; don’t forget them, for they will lead you to real living.
Proverbs 10:17
Living Bible (TLB)
17 Anyone willing to be corrected is on the pathway to life. Anyone refusing has lost his chance.
Luke 5:5-7
Living Bible (TLB)
5 “Sir,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, we’ll try again.”
6 And this time their nets were so full that they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 Year Bible Reading Plan: Luke 19:28-48 1 Samuel 16-17
2 Year Bible Reading Plan: Romans 14:12-23 Psalm 125-126
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