All-Sided Guidance
ALL-SIDED GUIDANCE,
that 'it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,' and getting perplexed with one-sided counsels.
Let us to-day put our confidence in His every-sided guidance.
Jer. x. 23.
Prov. iii. 6.
Ps. exliii. 8.
Very often, the very recoil from an error lands us in an opposite one ; because others, or we ourselves, have gone too far in one direction, we thenceforth do not go far enough, or wie versa: excess re-acting in defect, and defect in excess; a received truth overshadowing its equally valuable complementary one; the fear of overstepping the boundary line of the narrow track of truth and right, on the one side, leading us unconsciously to overstep it on the other side.
But the promise which we should claim is, that the Holy Spirit would guide us into a// truth, 'on e.g. John rhb tsy, (0) Acts xxviii.
4, 9.
John xvi, 13. every side.
How intensely restful is this completeness of guidance!
There is nothing outside of God's all-inclusive promises about it.
'I will direct ai his ways.'
'J will direct their work in truth.'
Not only the general course, but 'the szeps \ Isa. xlv. 13. ib, Ixi. 8.
Ps. xxxvil.2%
ROYAL COMMANDMENTS.
of a good man are ordered by the Lord ;' and what is less than a single step!
Just realize this: every single little step of this coming day ordered by Jehovah!
And lest you should sigh, ' This is not for me, because I am not good,' He repeats the same assurance still more simply: 'The Lord directeth his steps.'
Now if we really believe these words, zzced we feel worried because we cannot see the steps ahead which Jehovah zs going to direct, if we will let Him ?
Prov. xvi. 9.
Tsa. xlii. 16.
Lf we will let Him!
Yes, this is no fatalistic leading.
The guidance is conditional.
He says, 'I will guide thee with Mine eye;' but then we must look up to meet His eye.
'Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel;' but then we must listen for and listen to His counsel.
'He shall direct thy paths ;' but it is when we acknowledge Him in all our ways.
He does not lead us whether or no!
Ps. xxxii 8.
2 Chron xx, 2, Ps, ixxili.24.
Prov. viii.34. ib. ii, 6.
Suppose a, little child is going with its father through an untracked wood.
If it walks ever such a little way apart,
ALL-SIDED GUIDANCE,
it will make many a lost step; and though the father will not let it get out | John x. 28. of sight and hearing, will not let it get lost, yet he may let it find out for it- |
2 Chron. self that going just the other side of | Deut! viii 2 this tree leads it into a hopeless thicket, and stepping just the other side of this stone leads it into a muddy place, and the little steps have to be retraced again and again, till at last it asks the father | Ps xvii. 5. to hold its hand, and puts and eaves its | ib. xxxi. 3, s. hand in his.
Then, and not till then, | Prov. iii. 26. there will be zo Jost step, for itis guided | ib. iv. 26,
'on every side.' a a Need the little child go on a little longer by itself first?
Had it not better put its hand into the father's at once?
Will you not do so 'from this | Jer. iii. 4 time'? from this morning?
Give up trying to pick your way ; even if the 'right paths' in which He leads you Prov. iv. 113
Isa, xlii, 16, are paths that you have not known, say, 'Even there shall Thy hand lead | Ps.cxxxix x0 me.'
Let Him teach you fs paths, | ib. xxv 4 and ask Him to make not your way, but ' Thy way straight before my face.'
So | ib. v. 8 shall you find the completeness and the
ROVAL COMMANDMENTS.
sweetness of His guidance.
For ' the Lord shall guide thee continually,' 'by the springs of waters shall He guide' thee; He shall be the guide of your youth, and carry you even unto your old age; He will be your guide even unto death, and beyond: for one strain of the song of the victorious ones that stand upon the sea of glass mingled with fire shall be, 'Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation.'
Isa. Iviii., xz. ib. xlix. ro.
Jer. ili. 4.
Isa. xlvi. 4, Ps, xlviil. 14.
Rev. xv. 2, 3.
Ex. xv. 13.
'I know not the way I am going, But well do I know my Guide ; With a childlike trust I give my hand To the Mighty Friend at my side:
And the only thing that I say to Him As He takes it, is: '' Hold it fast ; Suffer me not to lose my way, And lead me home at last,"''