06042022 The Path

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who helps us walk. It is wonderful to know that He guides our steps day by day.

A sixth category of God’s blessing has to do with the path that the righteous and the wicked walk. The path of the righteous man is truly blessed. “All the paths of the LORD are mercy [lovingkindness] and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies” (Psalm 25:10). God’s ways are filled with lovingkindness and truth for His people. This is not merely an occasional path of lovingkindness and truth, but all His paths. No matter where the believer walks in obedience to God, he finds lovingkindness and truth to support him and to guide him.

One way God provides a path of blessing is by giving illumination. God shines His light on the path of the righteous. When the way seems dark, and the answers cannot be seen, God is able to break through that darkness. He can take a path that has seemed very dark and can instead make it shine brightly and clearly. “The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness (Psalm 18:28).

God’s blessing on the path is also shown by His ability to keep His children from slipping. “Who holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved” (Psalm 66:9). God can help His children’s feet to remain firmly on the path. He does this in at least two ways. One of those is that He makes the steps on the path so broad that His children can walk easily on them. “Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip” (Psalm 18:36). In this way, God removes much of the danger that lies in a narrow or otherwise treacherous path. With adequate and even spacious places to put their feet, God’s children can walk safely. A second way that God keeps His children from slipping is by holding them up. When the path grows perilous, and the believer begins to slip, God can hold him securely. “When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up” (Psalm 94:18).

God also blesses the path of His children by enabling them to walk on paths they would never be able to reach on their own. He can strengthen and transform their feet so they can walk on high and lofty places. With God’s enablement, His followers can reach heights they never would have dreamed of, because God has blessed them. “He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places” (Psalm 18:33).

Lest we think that it is possible for everyone to walk on lofty heights with such light and stability, God makes it clear that the path for the wicked is very different. Because of the perversity they have chosen, they are led not into light, but into destruction. “As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity” (Psalm 125:5). Their feet do not find firm footing, because in addition to being dark, their path is also slippery. “Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them” (Psalm 35:6). As they walk this dark and slippery way, they are pursued by a righteous God who will ultimately cause their path to end in death. “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction” (Psalm 73:18). The wicked grope in darkness, slipping and falling at every turn, and ending in disaster.

The sadness of the path of the wicked serves to highlight the tremendous blessing that the children of God enjoy. With light, support, and strength from God, the righteous walk a blessed path indeed. May you be very aware this week of God’s blessing on your path.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA