Week 6 – The Greatness of God’s Perspective

Nov 25, 2010 Gary Henry C - Obedience

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

One of the most important parts of spiritual growth is learning to “see” things from God’s “perspective.” This is true for two reasons: (1) As sinful beings, we’re “blinded” by ignorance (Ephesians 4:17-19), and (2) as created beings, we have less knowledge than our Creator. Even without sin, we’d still have to have God’s greater knowledge to direct our path in life. It’s only when our thinking has profited from God’s higher vision that our conduct will go in His direction.

The word “perspective” is interesting. It means “point of view.” Imagine, for example, that you’re traveling a winding road through a wooded valley. You come to a fork in the road and aren’t sure which fork to take because you can’t see very far ahead. But high on the hill above, someone happens to be watching you. From his higher point of view, this person can easily see where both forks in the road lead. If you could see what he can see, you’d have no trouble deciding which way to go. That’s what we mean by “perspective”: it’s how much of the total reality someone can “see” from a particular “vantage point.”

David’s selection as king illustrates how much more complete God’s perspective is than our own. Anybody else would have chosen one of David’s older brothers, but God made a different (and better) decision because God saw things from a different (and higher) perspective: “The Lord does not see as man sees” (1 Samuel 16:7). God saw everything that was involved in the entire situation, not just the few “surface” things that human beings could see.

So what should we do? Obviously we can’t be God. We can’t see with His perfect and complete vision. But we can let Him, in His word, tell us what He sees! And learning to do that is what spiritual growth is all about. It’s coming to be “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). That means coming to have an inward character that resembles God’s own character. It means adopting His value system and learning to make our decisions on the same basis that He makes His. The more we learn to do that — thinking about things as God thinks about those same things — we’ll find life getting better in every important way.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Monday: Psalm 19:12,13

Key Idea: Our own understanding of truth and goodness is very limited.

1. What does David say it is hard for a human being to do? What do you think are some of the reasons why this is so hard?
2. Think carefully about Jeremiah 10:23. What are the two things discussed in the introduction above that limit the perspective of human beings? What should be our response when we realize that even the best thinking a human being can do is inadequate? In 1 Kings 3:7-9, what was the attitude of Solomon when he became king?
3. Don’t we sometimes find ourselves unnecessarily discouraged because we refuse to “open our eyes” and “see” things that God assures us are really there? Give some thought to the story in 2 Kings 6:8-18.

Tuesday: Psalm 147:5

Key Idea: God’s knowledge and wisdom are infinite.

1. In this verse, how is God’s greatness described? What is said about His “understanding”?
2. Look at Isaiah 55:8,9. What about God is “higher” than mankind? In practical terms, what are some things that would be different about a person’s thinking and conduct if he or she really took this truth seriously?
3. What are some things that would look different from God’s perspective than they look from our own? Consider things like truth, wisdom, righteousness, justice, love, and goodness. When we’re making decisions, why is it wise to look at these things as God sees them rather than as the world sees them? Think about Psalm 119:137,138,142.

Wednesday: Psalm 19:7-11

Key Idea: It is through His word that we can learn to “see” as God does.

1. Going down through vv.7-9, what different characteristics of God’s word are mentioned? What are the different things that God’s word does?
2. In v.11, what do you think the Psalmist meant when he said, “Moreover by them Your servant is warned”?
3. Consider the value of a “map.” A map helps us to avoid wrong turns because it tells us what the territory looks like from a higher vantage point. What points of comparison might be made between God’s word and a map?
4. In Psalm 119:9,11, what purpose did the Psalmist say God’s word served?
5. To what is God’s word compared in Psalm 119:105? See also 119:130.
6. What are we taught to pray in Psalm 119:18?

Thursday: Psalm 143:8

Key Idea: Faith means trusting God’s understanding.

1. After saying that he trusted in God, what did David pray that God would do?
2. What does Psalm 111:10 say? Why do you think reverence (“the fear of the Lord”) is so necessary to wisdom? What did Solomon say in Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 was the most important insight that a human being can have?
3. In Proverbs 3:5,6, what advice did Solomon give to his son? Can you think of some situations where you’ve found it hard to do what Solomon is advising?
4. Think about the real trust that David had in God, reflected in places like Psalm 18:2; 37:3-6; and 118:8. Do we really trust God if we only do His will when it seems wise to us? What are some of the reasons why we may not always see the wisdom of the path God desires us to take?

Friday: Psalm 119:103,104

Key Idea: As we grow spiritually, we grow in our ability to “discern” good and evil.

1. In v.103, what was the Psalmist’s attitude toward God’s word? In v.104, what did he gain from God’s “precepts”? Would a person be able to think correctly about “every false way” if he didn’t have the “understanding” that comes from God’s word? Why or why not?
2. In Psalm 32:8, what did God say He would “instruct” and “teach” us? With what will he “guide” us?
3. Do you know what the word “discriminate” means? Although this word today often has a negative connotation, its root meaning refers to an ability that is not only valuable, it’s essential to spiritual growth and health. What can you learn from the dictionary about this word?
4. Consider Hebrews 5:12-14. In the last part of v.14, what can be done by those who “by reason of use have their senses exercised”?
5. What does Psalm 119:66 say about “good judgment”?
6. What does it mean to “evaluate” something? What is a “value system”? Why is it important to learn to evaluate things the way God does? According to Psalm 119:37, how can we know what is “worthless” and what has real value?
7. According to Psalm 51:6, what does God “desire” of us?

Putting It All Together

Every day, we face many “forks” in the road, and we choose to take one “path” or the other. All of these decisions are important because they all have consequences. The quality of our decisions, and therefore our character and conduct, is determined by our thinking. Growing toward God means growing in our ability to think about everything as He thinks! As we learn to “see” things from His “perspective,” we’ll find ourselves making decisions that take us upward, rather than downward. Spiritually, we’ll be moving toward life, rather than death.

Gary Henry – WordPoints.com

Week 7 – The Importance of Walking in God’s Ways

Nov 24, 2010 Gary Henry C - Obedience

“My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly” (Psalm 119:167).

If we are to be among the people of God and have the hope of eternal life, we must not only learn to think as God thinks (in our character), we must actually do His will (in our conduct). We must learn to obey God and walk in His ways.

One difficulty we sometimes have is that of knowing God’s will but failing to do anything about it. The Bible speaks often about the importance of not just hearing God’s will, but actually doing it (James 1:22-24; etc.). Truly being a seeker of God means that we strive for integrity: consistency between our principles and our actions. Having learned God’s will, our faith must show up in works. As the song says, we must “trust and obey.” This “obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5) is one of the defining characteristics of the Christian. When we do what God instructs, from the heart and because we trust Him, we are the spiritual heirs of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-9; Hebrews 11:8-19; James 2:21-23).

Even in the Old Testament, God repeatedly emphasized that His desire was for a people who would obey Him. Obedience was expected of the physical nation of Israel back then, and the prophecies that looked forward to the “new covenant” also spoke of the necessity of obedience (Jeremiah 31:31-34). God’s people would be those who submitted reverently and gratefully to His authority. “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 11:19,20). Other important passages along the same line are Isaiah 2:1-4 and Malachi 3:17,18.

One passage that goes to the heart of the matter is Deuteronomy 10:12,13, where Moses spoke to the nation of Israel: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” After all is said and done, the spiritual kingdom that God has established, foreshadowed by the ancient nation of Israel, is populated by those willing to submit to Him as King and live by His laws.

“Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Monday: Psalm 40:6-8

Key Idea: God desires that we obey Him “from the heart.”

1. Look carefully at v.8. What are some ways that David’s attitude is different from the attitude that many seem to have toward obedience to God?
2. Why do you think it’s important to “delight” in doing God’s will? What is the attitude reflected in Psalm 119:35,47,167?
3. Think about the importance of the “heart.” What points are made in Deuteronomy 6:4-6 and 30:14?
4. Do you think David’s approach to obedience was a part of what made him a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14)? In what different ways would you say David’s viewpoint was different from that of his predecessor Saul?
5. What does God want from us: (1) correct outward actions, (2) true inward love for Him, or (3) both? In John 4:23,24, what did Jesus say? How important was obedience to Jesus Himself, according to John 4:34 and 6:38?

Tuesday: Psalm 119:34

Key Idea: Our obedience to God must be WHOLEHEARTED.

1. How would you put into your own words the attitude reflected in the Psalmist’s statement: “I shall observe it with my whole heart”? Look also at 119:10.
2. Consider Psalm 86:11. What would a “united” heart be?
3. What did James say about the problem of double-mindedness in James 1:6-8 and 4:7,8?
4. How important is it that we have an honest, genuine intent to obey God? What did Jesus say in John 7:17 and 8:42-47?
5. What is the very highest attitude we can have toward God’s will, as expressed in Matthew 26:39,42 by Jesus in Gethsemane?

Wednesday: Psalm 119:57-60

Key Idea: Our obedience to God must be PROMPT.

1. Why is it important that we not “delay” in keeping God’s commandments?
2. What does Genesis 22:1-3 reveal about Abraham’s attitude toward obedience?
3. What is the point of the story told by Jesus in Matthew 21:28-32?
4. What might David have meant when he prayed to God, “Early will I seek You” (Psalm 63:1)?
5. What is said about “today” in Hebrews 3:12-15?

Thursday: Psalm 1:1-6

Key Idea: God’s law is a good thing, intended for our benefit.

1. What does the word “blessed” mean? In what ways is a person “blessed” who keeps God’s law?
2. Consider the relationship between “freedom” and “law.” Is law an inherently undesirable thing that restricts our liberty? In their environment of perfect happiness, did Adam and Eve have any restrictions on what they could do? Can there be any real freedom without some “governing” of our behavior? What was said to Israel in Leviticus 18:5? Where is there more safety and security: inside the limits of God’s law or outside? Consider Psalm 119:1,2,45,93. Is a “fence” always a bad thing?
3. Are God’s requirements a “burden” we must bear? What do Matthew 11:28-30 and 1 John 5:3 say? Think seriously about this: what must be our attitude toward God Himself in order for His commandments not to seem burdensome?
4. In Deuteronomy 4:5-8, what attitude toward God’s law were the people of Israel to have?
5. According to Psalm 84:10,11, will good things come to those who obey God? Cf. 2 Chron. 17:6.

Friday: Psalm 105:42-45

Key Idea: The people of God are those who submit to His rule in their hearts and lives.

1. Who are God’s “people” in this passage? In v.45, what are they to do? In Exodus 19:5,6, what “covenant” was entered into by God and Israel? What was said in passages like Deuteronomy 5:29-33; 26:16-19; 28:9? Who are God’s “people” today? What does 1 Peter 2:9,10 say?
2. Think about the analogy between the “people of God” and a “kingdom.” A kingdom is a realm ruled by the authority of a king. In one sense, every human being stands under the authority of God, because all have been created by Him and will be judged by His law (Acts 17:30,31). But in a special sense, God’s kingdom refers to those who submit to His authority. Many people would say they’re in this kingdom, but what did Jesus teach in Luke 6:46 about the necessity of obedience? Also see Matthew 7:21.
3. What are some of the basic, fundamental principles of God’s law? For starters, consider justice (Psalm 106:3; Micah 6:8) and love (Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3). What others can you think of?
4. What does it mean to accept the “lordship” of Jesus Christ? Consider Colossians 3:17 and 1 Peter 3:15. See also Colossians 2:6.

Putting It All Together

What does God desire from us? He certainly desires obedience, but He also desires obedience from the heart. If we truly love God and seek Him, we’ll obey Him wholeheartedly and promptly. We’ll come to see God’s law not as an unpleasant burden, but as a great blessing that He has given us for our benefit. If we wish to be among God’s people, we must submit to His authority in reverence and in gratitude.

Gary Henry – WordPoints.com