Let Go of the Wheel & Let God Drive

Today's Reading: Psalm 78

     Verses 1-8 are trying to get people's attention as well as get them to share God's Word with their children so the children don't become like their ancestors, the Israelites from Egypt, who were stubborn, rebellious and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God (v. 8). 
     Verses 9-72, the rest of this chapter, talks about those rebellious Israelites from Egypt.  It speaks of how they continually rejected God although He continued to bless them.  They were stubborn and thought that God couldn't provide for them or protect them.  They were blinded by their own thoughts and were unable to see the blessings God put right in their faces.  But He showed them through miraculous signs that He was the Most High.  It also reminds us in these verses about the plagues and treatment of Egypt when the Israelites were in slavery there.  The end of these verses tells us how God rejected the tribe of Ephraim because they fled from battle, didn't keep God's covenant and refused to live by his instructions.  Instead, He chose  the tribe of Judah and from that tribe He chose David, calling him from the sheep pens to be the shepherd of Jacob's descendants-God's own people, Israel.  And as we learn in later chapters of the Bible, David is the ancestor of Jesus himself-28 generations between them according to Matthew 1:17.
     God doesn't make mistakes.  He gave us free will so we may choose for ourselves which leads us to sometimes make mistakes.  But remember, God can take our mistakes and make something wonderful.  All we have to do is open our hearts to Him and admit our shortcomings and give Him control because He has a plan for us that is far more wonderful than we could ever imagine.  Just let go of the wheel and let God drive, it will be a wonderful ride.

Power Verse:
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Jesus said: "Are you tired? Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real test.  Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. 

The farther a man knows himself to be from perfection, the nearer he is to it. --Gerard Groote

A woman was terribly overweight, so her doctor put her on a diet.  "I want you to eat regularly for two days and then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for two weeks.  The next time I see you, you'll have lost at least five pounds."
     When the woman returned, she'd lost nearly twenty pounds.  "Why, that's amazing!" the doctor said.  "Did you follow my instructions?"
     The woman nodded.  "I'll tell you, though, I thought I was going to drop dead the third day."
"From hunger, you mean?"
"No, from skipping."