Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
May 18, 2012

“Under the Microscope”
“For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.” – Proverbs 5:21

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him”. – 2nd Chronicles 16:9

Chapter five of Proverbs, the last several verses in particular, have been dealing specifically with taking care of matters at home—the realization that what we have there is far more precious than anything else this world has to offer. Verse 21 now takes us to a new level without really leaving the previous thoughts.
Since God designed the most precious of all relationships—marriage—it only stands to reason He would do everything to protect that—and us from making very crucial mistakes. It is good to know that He is with us to protect us—sometimes even from ourselves.
Doris Akers wrote the words and music. Elvis made it a hit. It was written as a prayer, and it is a prayer that never grows old. The words were taken from Psalm 31:3—“Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.” Here are the original lyrics:

I am weak and I need Thy strength and power, To help me over my weakest hour.
Let me through the darkness Thy face to see, Lead me, Oh Lord, lead me.

Help me tread in the paths of righteousness. Be my aid when Satan and sin oppress.
I am putting all my trust in Thee: Lead me, Oh Lord, lead me.

I am lost if you take your hand from me, I am blind without Thy light to see.
Lord just always to me thy servant be, Lead me, Oh Lord, lead me.

Dr. Paul Tournier, a famous Swiss physician and counselor of the Twentieth Century, observed that God’s guidance in our lives may not always be recognized at the moment, but it is there none-the-less. He said, “He leads us step by step, from event to event. Only afterwards, as we look back over the way we have come and reconsider certain important moments in our lives in the light of all that has followed them, or when we survey the whole progress of our lives, do we experience the feeling of having been led without knowing it, the feeling that God has mysteriously guided us.” Chapter 28 of Genesis tells the story of Jacob’s flight from Esau. Jacob’s brother had sworn to kill him because he had tricked Esau into giving up his birthright and their father’s blessing. On the first night away from home Jacob had a dream—a revelation from God. The next morning, when Jacob awakened from his restless sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, but I was not aware of it.”
Luke, the gospel-writer, tells the story of two followers of Jesus who were en route from Jerusalem to Emmaus, reflecting on the events of the day that Jesus was resurrected from the dead (Luke 24:13-32). A “stranger” joined them on their journey, and he asked the men what they had been discussing when he joined them. At first the men did not recognize that the stranger was the risen Christ. Later they asked, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 2:42 pm EDT