“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
PRONE TO WANDER
Too often I find myself distracted and drifting, instead of having my heart and mind focused on the Savior who loves me and gave Himself for me. The one who is committed to me and promises to never leave me nor forsaske me. To love me for the rest of my life.
A classic hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” written in 1757 by 22-year-old Robert Robinson expresses our inclination to wander away from God’s truth. In the hymn’s lyrics is a line that that says, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.”
We know when we have wandered away from God and His truth. In those seasons of wandering, our heart of hearts doesn’t want to drift from God—but, like Paul, we often do what we don’t want to do (Romans 7:19), and we desperately need to turn back God.
wander: to move about without a fixed course, aim, or goal; to go idly about
prone: having a tendency or inclination : being likely
Without a fixed course, aim or focus in our spiritual life we more than likely will to go astray. Scriptures teach us that without “prophetic revelation” or “vision” of the Kingdom of God people go astray from the plans of God. There are many different Bible translations of this truth. The New Century Version of the Bible (NCV): “Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled, but those who obey what they have been taught are happy.” The Good News Version (GNV): “Where there is no vision, the people decay: but he that keepeth the law is blessed.” The English Standard Version (ESV) reads: “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” Whichever translation you prefer, the thought is the same, we perish for lack of knowledge of God’s Law (Word). We tend to wander away from the God when we lack knowledge and understanding or dismiss His Word as important to our daily lives.
We limit our whole lives to what this world offers us. We go astray in our hearts trying to navigate through life without a vision of the Kingdom life that God offers His children. Hebrews 3:10 (NLT) says: ‘Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them’.
When we fail to do what God tells us we are cannot enter into His rest. We worry about everything daily life brings our way. We worry about our finances, our health, our children, our relationships with others. We worry about what we are going to eat, what we are going to wear. But God tells us not to worry about these things. Instead, seek the Kingdom of God first and all His righteousness. As believer, is strongly encouraged to enter into God’s rest. Hebrew 4: 1-3 TPT says:
“Now God has offered to us the same promise of entering into his realm of resting in confident faith. So we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it. 2 For we have heard the good news of deliverance just as they did, yet they didn’t join their faith with the Word. Instead, what they heard didn’t affect them deeply, for they doubted. 3 For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest! For he has said,
“I was grieved with them and made a solemn oath,
‘They will never enter into the calming rest of my Spirit.’ ”
God’s works have all been completed from the foundation of the world, 4 for it says in the Scriptures, And on the seventh day God rested from all his works.”
Scripture declares that all humanity has turned away from God, and must return to him. The term “repentance” is often used to refer to this process of returning to God and the inward and outward changes that it demands of people. Scripture also indicates that believers can wander away from God; they too must return to him.
All people have turned away from God
Isa 53:6; Isa 64:6 See also Job 25:4; Jer 17:9; Jn 3:19; Ro 3:23
God is always calling His people back from their wandering into sin:
“…Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:13)
“Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! (Hosea 14:1).
“Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 1:3)
How can we stay on the path destined for us as the children of God? How can we stay on the path of purity and righteousness? Psalm 119:9-16 gives us the answer. By living according to God’s Word. Whether we are young or old we are called to live as Kingdom citizens according to God’s Word, seeking Him with our whole hearts and hiding the Word in our heart that we might not sin against Him.
Knowing God’s Law, His Word that comes from His mouth is crucial to living as Kingdom citizens on earth. We can rejoice when we follow His statutes, meditate on is precepts and consider His ways as we go about our daily lives.
We are to constantly seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness above everything that we are seeking:
“So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. 34 Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time.Tomorrow will take care of itself.”
Do not neglect the Word of the Lord! Seek after the Kingdom and His Righteousness!
Blessings,
Dr. A.
Note: All Scriptures are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
BEYOND CHURCH WALLS 