Who Knows Best?

As a child, my favorite television program was Father Knows Best. (Aired in the late 1950s.) Each week this sitcom allowed me to visually experience the daily lives of a middle-class American family. Together, this father, mother and 3 children shared celebrations and challenges. Each family member had his/her personal ideas for handling life. Ultimately, their issues were resolved by the father knowing the best way to handle family and friend concerns. Good moral guidance was portrayed. The program’s conclusion always declared Father knows best!

To bring us up to date, we advance 70 years to 2026. We are going to make a spiritual application revealing that our Heavenly Father knows best. Let’s use a few scriptures to prove our point.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight. 
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7

I like the wording of verses 5 and 7 in the Passion Translation. Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make…. Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore Him with undivided devotion and avoid everything that’s wrong. Just like in the TV program, we each have our own opinion regarding how to live daily life. We think we know what we are doing. However, we will be much wiser if we trust our Heavenly Father’s wisdom. Our Heavenly Father knows best!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9

Usually, our first reaction is to do it our way. “Mine” is one of the first words a small child verbalizes when gaining the ability to make choices. “What would God do?”is not likely our first thought. However, the Lord clearly informs us that His thoughts and ways are better. Our Heavenly Father knows best!

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
I Corinthians 1:25

Actually, there is no foolishness or weakness found within our omniscient, omnipotent God. We are the ones who can be foolish and weak. We must give God preeminence according to Colossians 1:18 NKJV. Our Heavenly Father knows best!

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
Ephesians 3:20

If God’s capability is beyond what we can comprehend or even consider, why would we want to do it our way? We would be limiting God. I love the New King James Version of this verse. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

As children of God, we are part of His family. Proverbs 1:8-9 instructs us, “Listen, My son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”

Although the sitcom of 70 years ago was fiction, the message that Father Knows Best was true. Today, we live our days in reality. The spiritual message is still the same. Our Heavenly Father Knows Best!

disCOURAGE – COURAGE – enCOURAGE

As Moses neared the end of his life, he spoke Deuteronomy 31:6 to the people headed to the Promised Land. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.

In Joshua 1:5-6, the Lord spoke similar words to Joshua, the Israelites’ new leader.  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. The Lord reiterates the command to be strong and courageous in verse 7.

Let’s delve into the meaning of courage. When first thinking about courage, we may primarily envision being physically brave – not being afraid of what we will encounter. However, spiritual courage includes the inner strength of faith and hope. With courage, we receive an added dimension of ability to face our challenges. This is what God offered the people before crossing the Jordan River.

Once again, the Lord gave them a reminder in Joshua 1:9. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. This time the Lord not only emphasized for them to be courageous but also not to be discouraged.

The prefix “dis” presents a different perspective. “Dis” means “lack of” or “not.” We have a choice when walking through our difficult circumstances. We can continue forward with courage or we can get stuck in one place if discouraged. Will we choose to simply rely upon our own strength or are we willing to rely upon God? Our courage may ebb and flow, but God is always faithful. As quoted earlier in Joshua 1:6, the Lord promised, “I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Jesus made a similar promise to us in Matthew 28:20. Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

There is another prefix that can be attached to courage – “en.” According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “en” can be defined as to “put into” or “cover with” or “go into.” For us, to encourage someone means to stand with someone who is struggling. We have the opportunity to impart spiritual stamina known as faith. We can remind them of II Timothy 1:7. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. This is inner spiritual courage – not just outward physical courage. Our encouragement can help one who is discouraged to gain courage to keep going.

Let’s make a personal application of our word study. “Be strong and courageous” continues to be God’s daily directive. This command is not limited to the Israelites. However, it is not always easy to courageously move forward. We may need encouragement to keep us from discouragement. I Thessalonians 5:11 tells us, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” Romans 5:15 encourages us by saying, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”

Psalm 27:14 NKJV says, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” May we personally be encouraged by this verse. Then may we have the courage to encourage those who may be discouraged.

A Good or Bad Choice?

Good and bad, and sometimes humerus, experiences create memories. Years ago, our daughter-in-love had taken our granddaughter to her first dental appointment. As they were leaving, our granddaughter was offered a prize for a good check-up. She surveyed her choices. Although she wanted two things, she could only have one. Seeing this as a teaching opportunity, her mother asked if she was going to make a good or bad choice. While clutching two prizes in her hands, she responded, “A bad one!” and began to run out of the office. She did not get far before Mom grabbed her and helped her make a good choice. Although there were consequences for her bad choice, our granddaughter did get one prize.

There is a spiritual lesson hidden in this incident. As children of God, we have a Heavenly Father who cares for us. Throughout our lives, we make many choices – some good and some not so good. Jesus says in John 16:13, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” The Holy Spirit helps us make good choices and convicts us if we make bad ones.

In Romans 7:14-25, Paul tells about his struggles with good and bad choices. Although he wants to make good choices, he says sin stirs up a desire causing him to make bad choices. Paul is unable to overcome some choices simply by his own willpower. In verses 14-16 he declares, “I am a human being made of flesh and trafficked as a slave under sin’s authority. I’m a mystery to myself, for I want to do what is right, but end up doing what my moral instincts condemn.” His behavior and his desires are not always the same. So, how does he manage to make good choices? Paul answers this question in verses 24-25. So, who has the power to rescue this miserable man from the unwelcome intruder of sin and death? I give all my thanks to God, for His mighty power has finally provided a way out through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! (Quotes from The Passion Translation)

Scripture gives us guidelines to help us make good choices. Galatians 6:7 warns, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” We must be cautious when making decisions. James 4:7 encourages, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Then we will be able to make good choices. Another helpful tool is prayer. Matthew 26:41 tells us, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Our spirit will allow us to make good decisions while the flesh entices us to make bad ones.

However, if we make a bad choice, we are given a chance to correct it. This requires that we admit we have made a bad choice. Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” 1 John 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Choices abound for Biblical characters and for us.

The first choice in described in Genesis 3:1-7. The serpent challenged Eve regarding what God had said. Trusting the serpent more than God, she made a bad choice and ate fruit from the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden. All of us still suffer the consequences of this bad choice.

In Joshua 24:15, the Israelites were given a choice. Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. At the end of the verse Joshua declares his decision. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Paul made choices. Early in his life, he made some bad choices. Later, he made good choices. He fulfilled the Lord’s command of Isaiah 43:18-19. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”

At the beginning I shared about our granddaughter’s bad choice. She is still making choices. Through good parental guidance and developing her own faith, she has learned to make good choices. Today she is a beautiful young lady completing her doctorate degree in piano pedagogy and performance.

My Reader, join me in choosing to make good choices!

A Road Journey

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus,
about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each
other about everything that had happened. As they talked and
discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and
walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him. …
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while
He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24: 13-16,32 (writer’s emphasis)

Luke 24:13-38 records the story of two individuals walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. My Reader, will you join me on a scripture walk? We will share a few thoughts about the Emmaus journey that occurred approximately 2000 years ago. We will also reflect upon our current personal walks. I have selected and highlighted a few verses that we will talk about on our walk.

With our Bibles open to Luke 24, we discover one man’s name was Cleopas according to verse 3. However, Cleopas did not walk alone. He had a friend. We do not know anything about him. However, friends are always important. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” These two friends had much to discuss since they were confused about Jesus’ death and resurrection. While living on earth, the companionship of two was important to Jesus. When He sent His disciples to share the good news, He never sent one man alone. Mark 6:7 tells us, “Calling the Twelve to Him, He began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spiriits.

My Reader, who is your confidant who walks your spiritual journey with you? Seldom do we walk alone. In God’s unique way, He sends others to walk with us. It is better for two to travel together than one to stumble alone down an unknown path.

As the two men continued walking to Emmaus, we discover they soon had company. In verse 15, we learn it is Jesus. However, they did not recognize Him. They suspected he was just a passerby who was ignorant of current events since he did not divulge who he was or what he knew.

Do we recognize that Jesus is with us on our journey of life? Do we acknowledge His presence? In Matthew 28:20 Jesus assures us, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The biblical narrative reveals Cleopas and his friend’s conversation. Eventually, they arrived at Emmaus and invited their companion (Jesus) to share a meal. Although their physical journey was complete, their spiritual journey was not yet finished. They eventually recognized Jesus. Verse 32 says, “They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” Psalm 46:1 was fulfilled. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Jesus realized these men did not fully comprehend His death and resurrection. He came to help their troubled minds.

My Reader, do our hearts burn during our walks when Jesus shows up? The Holy Spirit lives in us. Jesus says in John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Isaiah 30:21 says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

Measuring the distance between Emmaus and Jerusalem, we discover these men traveled 7 miles. According to Christian symbolism, the number 7 represents spiritual perfection and completeness. We know the creation story involved 7 days according to Genesis 1. Genesis 2:2 says, “By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so, on the seventh day He rested from all his work.” Jesus clearly explained His death and resurrection on a 7-mile journey. If the journey had only been 6 miles, it would have been symbolic of humanity and imperfection. After only 6 miles, Cleopas and his friend still needed more spiritual revelation rather than just relying upon their own understanding. A seventh mile was necessary to shift from confusion and unbelief to an understanding that equipped them to become witnesses.

Our life journeys have a purpose. We are being transformed from our natural perspective to a supernatural perspective of the life God has given us. We must not cease walking with the Lord after just 6 miles. A shortened journey would result in only a worldly perspective. We are to press on and renew our minds according to God’s will. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

All of us walk roads of different descriptions and destinations throughout our lives. In Mark 16:15 Jesus told His disciples (and He still tells us today), “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” This is our 7-mile journey. Let us fulfill Galatians 5:25, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

God’s Dwelling Place

God is spirit – we are flesh. God is invisible – we are visible. God is supernatural – we are natural. God is immortal – we are mortal. Big contrasts between God and us! Yet, God created us for fellowship. John 15:7 encourages us to abide in Him and then He will abide in us. Since God knew abiding with Him would be hard for us, He gave us pictures of where we can be with Him. These pictures are tangible spaces described in scripture.

God created the Garden of Eden as the unique space where He would meet with Adam and Eve. Genesis 2:8 says, “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there He put the man He had formed.” We learn about God walking in this garden with them in Genesis 3:8. Unfortunately, Adam and Eve chose to listen to the serpent rather than spend time with God. Sin separated the natural from the supernatural. Genesis 3:23-24 tells us, “So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which He had been taken. After He drove the man out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”

Human flesh was banished from the first space God created to meet with His creations. However, God still desired to meet with humankind. Next, He instructed Moses to build a portable sacred space known as the tabernacle. This was done while the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness. The Lord told Moses in Exodus 25:8, “Have them make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them.” The detailed instructions are given in Exodus 25-40. Upon the tabernacle’s completion, Exodus 40:34 says, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” The tabernacle was the physical evidence of God’s presence with the Israelites throughout their wilderness journey.

The temple constructed by King Solomon was the next visible sacred space where God dwelt with His people. However, the temple not only symbolized the dwelling place of God among His people but was also the central place of worship in Jerusalem. It was a very ornate permanent structure precisely made according to instructions with symbolic expensive materials. (See I Kings 6-7.) During the dedication of the temple, I Kings 8:10-11 says, “When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.”

God was not satisfied living in constructed places. He desired a living space within us. Jesus and Nicodemus talk about this in John 3 regarding being born again. Jesus says in verses 6-7, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at My saying, ‘You must be born again.’” Jesus continues in John 14:16-17, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth…. He abides with you and will be in you.” When we die to self and are born again, we create a space within us where the Holy Spirit can reside. I John 4:13 says, “This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.” God takes up permanent residence within our bodies through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Paul asks in I Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” We are given a new way to live moment by moment in God’s presence. Our life becomes a garden experience.

We no longer need pictures developed as a tabernacle or a temple. We are the temple where God lives. He speaks to us Spirit to spirit. All of these spaces and places are pointing to the climax of Revelation 21:1 when John explains, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” Verse 3 continues, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘”

From the Garden of Eden to the portable tabernacle to the stone and wood temple to within us to the ultimate garden city of the new heaven and earth, God desires to dwell with us. It all started in Genesis 1 when God created the Garden of Eden, and it culminates in Revelation 22 when Eden is restored. God and His creations will enjoy fellowship throughout eternity.