He leads me in paths of righteousness . . . Psalm 23:4a

I have often been at critical junctures, wanting to follow God’s paths but having no idea what they were. I was frustrated by the ambiguity. I knew God promised to lead me. He said we are sheep and cannot find our way without His guidance, but I wondered why He did not speak louder so His paths could be discerned.

God is all about growing me up into the stature and maturity of His Son.  If I don’t have to think for myself at all, isn’t this spiritual toddlerhood?  Infant faith does begin with baby steps, but mature faith requires that I engage my intellectual faculties to the glory of God.

“Those who are skittish when it comes to rigorous study, deep thinking, and theological precision have wanted us to believe that our problem is the mind, when in fact it’s the flesh.”  Sam Storms

I have such high respect for Sam Storms. He’s right. These are not the days for laziness. I must know how to build precept upon precept in the artful ways of wisdom.  Sound decisions are made by students of the Word who have set out to learn the mind of God through Scripture with humility and spiritual poverty.  And just as importantly, sound decisions are made by disciples who are like the Apostle John, who spent time with his head on Jesus’ chest, cultivating an intimate relationship. Learning to think ~ and learning to hear God’s still small voice ~ are equally important.

Knowledge tempts me to be proud, but it is not knowledge that is the enemy.  It is my pride.  Paths of righteousness are ever before me.  God makes them clear for every level of spiritual development.  Milk for the babes; meat for the mature.  And, in that light, I can know that God will grant me the humility to listen, the grace to obey, but He also encourages every intellectual pursuit to be harnessed to the truth of the Scriptures.

I can be lazy and want to be led like a baby.  Forgive me.  Amen