Greatest Good

Sometimes it's hard to improve on old sayings. One of my favorites especially when I see a young child who seems to be the one-in-charge: in that case, the tail is waggin' the dog, which we know is not anatomically correct.

 

Here's another favorite and ancient one: Thus saith the Lord.  It’s absolutely enough to put God’s words inside quotation marks, but when His words are proceeded by “Thus saith the LORD,” we best listen-up!  Isaiah 48:17 says, "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go.’” To get a better idea of God's declaration in this verse, we need to read the verses before and after.  When you do, it's clear God loves His people and everything He does for them springs from His great and undying love!  Be sure, His statement isn’t some selfish whim but rather one of sovereign authority and infinite power to teach and lead those whom He loves to immeasurable benefits!  Verse 18 contrasts the misfortune of not following God's teaching and leading: “Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” What goes on-and-on like the flow of a river or waves upon the shore!  You may not be able to "get blood out of a turnip," but God reminds His people they "did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock and the water gushed out” (48:21).  Water from a rock - that's our God!  It's no wonder He says with indisputable certainty and all authority, "I am the LORD your God." He is altogether able to teach us absolute truth and lead us in infallible wisdom the way we should go.  God is our greatest Advocate and His Best is always our greatest good.  The most notorious hindrance to God’s Best in our lives will be the enemy within – selfish pride.  Let us not forfeit His Best but instead trust Him, obey Him for our greatest good!