God Teaches Us 1

Psalm 139:17-18

Although I am not much of a conversationalist there was a friend I had in college with whom I really liked to talk. We could sit for hours and have conversations. I enjoyed them because he was really clever and intelligent and I always got something out of our times together.

If we know that God loves us because He created us, then we can also know that God loves us because He shares His thoughts with us. What does the psalmist say about the thoughts of God? What do you think is meant by the last statement in verse 18?

Most believers agree that the ways of God are far beyond our reach. We are not capable of being as wise and intelligent as God. God is far above us in His thinking and we do not always understand what He does or what God’s motivation is.

But God does love us very much. He has created us and He also expresses His love for us by sharing His thoughts with us. He has expressed His desires through the writings of the Bible, and He still speaks to us today with lessons and guidance – that little nudging of our thoughts that urges us to do this or that.

God teaches us how to live a holy life. He teaches us through the Scripture and through the lessons that Jesus taught how to behave in a righteous and good way. He shows us how to truly be His children.

It is up to us to listen to these lessons. And more than listening, it is up to us to obey the teachings and commands of God. No matter how hard, no matter how challenging, God shows us what we are to do. We just need to do it.

And the teaching of God, the direction, the prompting and urging, is not something that God delivers to us and then leaves us to struggle along. He is with us in all things helping us to comprehend what He shows us, guiding us to do what is right.

Although the psalmist says he is still with God, we might remember that God is still with us. He is beside us as we work to live out His teaching and understand His will for our lives.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can help you listen to God?