Directions

DIRECTIONS

Which way are you going

TEXT: Psalm 37:23

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

The Lord Himself delights in his ways

So who is this good man in whom the Lord delights

The person in whom God delights is one who follows God, trusts him, and tries to do his will. God watches over and makes firm every step that person takes. If you would like to have God direct your way, then seek his advice before you step out.

Ask yourself the question is this the way the Lord would have me go.

ILLUSTRATION

A man called his neighbour to help him move a couch that had become stuck in the doorway. They pushed and pulled until they were exhausted, but the couch wouldn’t budge. "Forget it," the man finally said. "We’ll never get this in."

The neighbour looked at him quizzically and said, "In?"

1. THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN

Are your steps ordered by the Lord or are you going in your own preconceived direction?

Mark 10:18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

To be a good man we must become a God man, Jesus was wanting this rich young man to acknowledge Him as the Messiah. God in the flesh.

To be a good man we must acknowledge Him in all we do, putting Him first in all that we do.

If we place other things before God and our eyes are not firmly planted on Him, then we will wind up doing our own thing.

The worst part is that we will think that it is right. Look at Israel for example!

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

During the time of the judges, the people of Israel experienced trouble because everyone became his own authority and acted on his own opinions of right and wrong. This produced horrendous results.

Our world is similar. Individuals, groups, and societies have made themselves the final authorities without reference to God. When people selfishly satisfy their personal desires at all costs, everyone pays the price.

As a result, justice is soon replaced by revenge and chaos.

Ignoring God’s direction leads to confusion and destruction.

LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN SO MAY PARTS OF THE WORLD TODAY, THE MIDDLE EAST, AFGHANISTAN, .

Anyone or any country who has not submitted to God will end up doing whatever seems right at the time. This tendency is present in all of us. To know what is really right and to have the strength to do it, we need to draw closer to God and his Word.

THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD

Look what happens to the wicked

Psalm 37:21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.

They avoid their responsibilities

But look at their end

Psalm 37:20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendour of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.

THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD

Are your steps those of a good man?

ILLUSTRATION

Hugh Latimer (C. 1485-1555)

We must first be made good before we can do good; we must first be made just, before our works can please God. When we are justified by faith in Christ, then come good works.

Which brings me to my next point "The steps of a good man are:-

2. ORDERED BY THE LORD

What does it mean to be ordered by the Lord

Does that mean that we must become like robots

BY NO MEANS

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

If your heart is right before God and God’s Word is in your heart then the Lord will direct your steps.

The following passage may seem to be a contradiction

Proverbs 20:24 A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?

We are often confused by the events around us. Many things we will never understand; others will fall into place in years to come as we look back and see how God was working. This proverb counsels us not to worry if we don’t understand everything as it happens. Instead, we should trust that God knows what he’s doing, even if his timing or design is not clear to us.

Many times we become confused by being like the Israelites, doing what seems right in our own eyes.

Ask the question am I doing this for myself or am I listening to God and His Word and seeking His direction for my life?