When the Lord calls you to a task for His glory, that is the task that you will perform.
True or false?
Parts of two verses for you, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life,” (Psalm 16:11a) and “but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Prov. 16:9b)
The question really boils down to this, are we willing servants or, for lack of a better analogy, puppets on a string? By showing us the path of life, not only eternal life, but the path that leads to His glory, there remains a choice, one which is left up to us.
“Here is the path, it is clearly marked, simply study and apply my word to your life and in obedience to my will, follow me.”
Or
“Here is the direction your life is going to take, for I am going to direct your way.”
To put it in another very poorly phrased way my friends, follow with or without a rope tied to a collar around your neck.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Can we turn off that light, or dim it down?
If you are not studying to show yourself approved, how do you expect to follow, are you hoping to be led by that rope?
I used a similar analogy for my lovely wife when she began to question what the Almighty had in store for her, when she could not hear the Holy Spirit as well as she can now. I asked her if she was waiting for the Lord to place instructions for her in the mailbox outside our house.
I personally have experienced times when I knew full well what the Almighty wanted me to do, and He did not care to listen to any of my excuses, it was going to be done through me whether I wanted to be used by Him or not.
Some people have much difficulty in transforming from one whose own free will directed their lives to that of a servant who is now expected to obey.
The obvious question then is this, what the Lord places before us, do we have to accept it, and if we refuse, if we can refuse might be the better way to state this, do we lose rewards, fall out of His favor, retaining our salvation, but becoming no more than the words of David. “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10b)
Can we say no, is He showing us the path of life and allowing us to make the choice to take it, life lived for His glory, or is He directing our steps?
Consider those detrimental possibilities here if you will, embarrassment when you knew full well you were to speak for Him, submitting to those in authority over you for fear of some form of personal loss, continuing in relationships with those who despise His Holy name because of the possibility of losing those friends or relatives. If He has shown you the path, if He has directed your steps in it, and you have succumbed to one or more of those items just mentioned, whose fault is it if the Living God stops calling you to certain tasks?
His love for you remains, you are one of the chosen ones, but here is where your path stops, here is where you will wait for Him to call you home.
As far as I believe I have been shown up to my life in Christ at this time, I believe the following verse is earned, not given out for simply being saved, the one who will hear it has not only seen the path that the Lord has shown them, and willingly walked upon it, no matter the circumstances to themselves, but has pleaded with the Almighty to direct his steps.
“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matt. 25:23)
