The Ways Of The Lord Are Right

The Ways of the Lord are Right

Study Text: Hosea 14:8 - 9

Introduction:

The Bible in the book of Hosea urges anyone reading it to live wisely by obeying God’s precepts because they are completely true, and will lead those who follow His ways to be well pleasing unto God.

The ways of God is the path to our greatest possible fulfillment, and anyone who chooses to walk in it wholeheartedly is described as a wise person.

The biblical idea of righteousness is to live in accordance with God's design.

God designed the world to be good. This is to be achieved by humans working in harmony with God, in terms of loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:37-39).

When we walk in God's design, it leads to our greatest fulfillment. To know God gains us the greatest experience of life. It is the path not only to our own fulfillment, but it also brings life to those around us.

The reason for seeking to understand the things laid out in the Word of God is because the ways of the Lord are right. The right road leads to life, benefit, truth, and flourishing.

We shall be discussing the topic under three subheadings:

1. The Characteristics of the Ways of the Lord

2. The Commandment to Walk in the Ways of the Lord

3. The Consequences of not Walking in the Ways of the Lord.

1. The Characteristics of the Ways of the Lord:

God's Ways are Not Our Ways

Isaiah 55: 5 - 8

God is infinite, but we are finite. He knows the end from the beginning while we see just a short part of the now.

Examples through the scriptures and experience clearly illustrate that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts re not our thoughts.

When you know God intimately, and walk in His ways wholeheartedly, there will be Peace coming into your life. God gives you rest. There is stability. There is sufficiency. And you learn that no matter how bad the problem, not only is God necessary; but God only is more than enough.

His ways are above our ways. As you maintain a regular healthy fellowship with Him, He begins to manifest Himself to you, and you begin to know His ways.

It is important to know the ways of God in order to relate to an Invisible Creator, our Heavenly Father. Here are a few pointers to help us to understand the ways of the Lord in order to gain maximum benefit from our divine relationship and to be more pleasing in His sight.

1. Moses knew the ways of God, but the people only saw His works.

There is a big difference between knowing and walking in the Ways of the Lord, and witnessing the works of the Lord. Those who knows the ways of the Lord don't seek after the miracles of God, but rather, they seek the God of Miracles.

2. Isaiah says God’s ways are past finding out but gives a tip to understanding them.

The ways of the Lord are not easily discovered. Only those who sincerely and diligently seek Him will find Him. Hebrews 11:6

3. David pleaded that God would teach him His ways and promised to teach it to others.

We need to greatly delight in the ways of the Lord, and greatly desire to know it and walk in it, and this will help us to earnestly seek Him in prayers.

4. Jesus not only knew the ways of God but became THE WAY!

Jesus is all about the ways of God. We can only get to know God and walk in His ways through Him. John 14:6

5. By watching Jesus in action we learn the ways of God.

We became righteous before God by the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus Christ, and we remain in the righteousness of God, only as we learn about Jesus and walk in obedience to all His guidance and clear instructions. John 17: 17, Hebrews 12:2

2. The Commandment to Walk in the Ways of the Lord:

The righteous person follows the two great commandments, as set forth by Jesus. First, they love God with all their being, which includes believing that His ways are for our best.

Second, the righteous person seeks the best for others, and seeks to serve their best interest in a way that pleases God, without regard to the world's opposition. Jesus summarized these two basic commandments during His ministry on earth (Matthew 22:37-39).

Obedience to God's principles allows us to follow the right path leading to life, but disobedience causes us to stumble and fall, as Israel did in the Bible days. This was in accordance with God's covenant with Israel, which was laid out clearly (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).