In all thy ways

Pro 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

You surely know by now if you regularly read this blog that the gospel of grace, the pristine gospel that turned the first century world upside down is the main focal point of what I write. The emphasis is squarely placed on the idea that imputed righteousness, and peace with Father God is crucial to the proper spiritual transformation of the saint.

Of premium importance in this idea is the concept of resting in Jesus or the Sabbath Rest. The catalyst for transformation is resting in the gospel decrees no matter what. This means that one must trust and rest and rely on the gospel of grace at ALL times. This is a place where a misinformed tenet of evangelical dogma plays a very confusing role. Evangelical doctrine and dogma have linked two thoughts from First John chapter one that are not really linked. One is fellowship with the Father and the other is being "confessed up" on all sin. The fact is that 1John 1:7 and 1John 1:9 are not symbiotic. Fellowship is not predicated on constant confession in the mind of God. He had Paul declare that He/God, was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing humanities sin, and rather that Christ, who knew no sin was made sin for humanity so that the one walking in the light of that fact would be in CONSTANT fellowship with God based on the work of Christ and not the individual. The twisted way that evangelical dogma has viewed 1John negates this most important aspect of the gospel of grace.

Of course, it is good for us to confess our sin/faults and be aware of them. However, it does not restore fellowship as it has been declared that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. If there is a breach in fellowship it is only in the mind of the individual not resting completely in the gospel of grace as explained in great detail by Paul, and reinforced by all the first century apostles including James. This is precisely where the above quoted Proverb comes into play. It is a statement that agrees with Paul's explanation of the gospel of the kingdom which is in fact the gospel of God's grace in Christ Jesus.

To trust in the Lord with all of ones heart is to rest completely in the finished work of the cross of Christ Jesus. It is necessary to set aside ones own understanding or in other words that way which seemeth right! It does not seem right that God would declare one righteous based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. Our own understanding would make it so we would surely think that we must do something. The only thing that one can do is apprehend the faithfulness of Christ by a God given measure of faith imparted by the Holy Spirit upon hearing the gospel proclaimed.

So now comes the second part of the above Proverb; "In all thy ways acknowledge Him." What are all of our ways? The simple answer is in our good ways and in our not so good ways; in our obedience and in our sinfulness. The Proverb has a promise. If we trust in the Lord with all our heart (believe the gospel,) and lean not unto our own understanding (avoid the way which seems right,) in all our ways acknowledge him (no matter what the circumstance know that He will never leave or forsake and is always with us,) then He will direct our paths. That should be a comfort to all!