People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:2)
Read: Micah 1:1-4:13, Revelation 6:1-17, Psalm 134:1-3, Proverbs 30:1-4
Relate: A little honesty? When I saw what I had for today’s daily scripture reading my first thought was, “Yes, I’ve got Micah.” Since I am trying to do an advent devotional each day I figured this one was easy. Then I saw that I was only covering the first four chapters and “But you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah…” would have to wait for tomorrow, my next thought was, “Doh.” No, seriously. Doh, isn’t something I just write or even occasionally say for effect. It really is part of my mental vocabulary and I let out a big one just minutes ago.
Then I felt guilty about that. Sometimes, I think I already know what I want to talk about and then try and find a scripture that can remotely fit it. That is bad preaching and it is just as bad devotional writing. For those times I have done it, I am sorry. There are so many beautiful and deep treasures found each day in the scripture I am reading. If none of that seems to fit into what I am wanting to write about then the problem is with my desires and agenda, not with scripture.
The thing is, God has so much to teach but I am much eager to learn some things than others. We are called to walk in His paths, but some directions I am so much more eager to go than others. But if I am only following Him when it works for me, is it truly Him leading? If I am only learning what fits into my preconceived agenda, is He really the one teaching?
React: When Jesus came to earth, many religious leaders never became His disciples because they did not like the path down which His teaching led. Many of His early disciples left off when they saw how hard His teaching could be. There is a common phrase I hear a lot around this time of year, “Wise men still seek Him.” This is true. I would love to be counted among those wise men, but that means I need to continue to follow even when the road gets hard. There are those from among many nations who are crying out today, “Come, let’s go…” Am I counted among them? Are you?
Respond:
God, I come. Even when the road is hard, still I come. Even when the teaching gets difficult, still I hear and help me to learn from You. I want to follow You anywhere. No matter what You have in store, no matter where You might lead, let me be walking in Your paths.
THE RIVER WALK 
Amazing how often people claim to have ‘found him’ only to be betrayed by their own way of life. 😉 Hugs!
I’m trapped in this terrible “chicken and the egg” problem with “walk in His paths.” All of those paths should lead us back into the Garden – you know, the one guarded by the angel with the flashing swords. So I am confronted by these contradictory compulsions, and wondering how they are to be resolved.
Some times the Garden those paths lead us to are more like the Mount of Olives, where we say “Not my will” and then we die.
Yeah – that seems to be part of the preconditions for getting past that angel…deciding that we’re not as important as the Garden.
It’s interesting that Jesus chose a Garden for his arrest. He enters and says “My soul is filled with sorrow to the point of death!” Was it the garden’s sorrow that consumed him? Even the very rocks and stones?
And his disciples slumbered. What would have happened if they had “ears to hear” in that place? Would their hearts have stopped in their chests?
Amen!! Great Post!!
Merry CHRISTmas to all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus-Yeshua!!
Love Always and Shalom,
Kristi Ann
I don’t know how wise He counts me, but I’m always trying to live the way He wants me to live. Thanks for sharing!
Reblogged this on Kitten's Soiled Mittens.
Excellent post. Thano you for your honesty
Dear Beejai, I now subscribe to Riverwalk. I like your posts so much and now seek your permission to repost your blogs on ChritianBlessings to share with my blog readers. Appreciate very much if you approve. God bless.
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Thank you. Feel free.
Reblogged this on ChristianBlessings and commented:
How we need the leading of the Lord in this increasingly complex and wicked world.
Yes so in a way we want to choose what we want to follow at times. Having no preconceived notion an following by taking complete refuge is a decision that is challenging and needs to be taken on a daily basis for me.
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I normally do not comment on cliche phrases such as “Wise men still seek him”. I get that the Wise men were men. I get the connection, I really do. But somehow, some days, it feels exclusionary to not recognize that wise women also seek him. Was studying and listening to a great sermon today on Romans 15 and the speaker pointed out fully 1/3 of the references by Paul to co-workers and believers in Christ were made to women, in a time when women were nothing. To me, though I “get it”, I find it much more meaningful to say Wise People still seek HIM. I try to seek, to follow closely and obediently. I pray everyday that each day I will draw closer to Him. Great post, I’ve loved your entire series build up and path through advent toward Christmas. I’m glad I follow River Walk, even if there are times that I fall far behind and binge-read to catch up. Thank you again.
“Wise men still seek him” is a completely gender neutral statement. If someone takes issue with the phrase, they are probably looking in the wrong place. It is the first word, not the second, that has barred them from inclusion.