If you’ve been around awhile you might recall that frequently have told the story of how I came to memorize Proverbs 3:5-6. As I was pledging a college fraternity at Baylor in 1976 one of the members of the fraternity was a Christian and forced me to memorize this verse before he would vote for me to be in the club! It might seem strange to you and not match your view of fraternity life, but I will tell you that it has become one of those assignments that I completed that has stuck with me all these years.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
This Sunday I have the privilege of wrapping up our summer series that we have called “The Promises of God.” I have so appreciated hearing from each of the presenters and how they are learning to lean on God’s promises instead of just our human wisdom. Somehow the grand truth of Proverbs 3:5-6 that was written out long before the New Testament was put on paper is a promise from God that seems to lay life and how to live it so clearly. This week with my teaching team we spent some time reviewing each of the passages that every preacher taught on one of the Sunday’s this summer. Then we tried to bring clarity to what God was teaching us from His promises. Even though each passage speaks to a different situation and circumstance in life, it’s amazing how ultimately they all say the same thing —– and I find that they are all summarized so well in Proverbs 3:5-6.
As you prepare for our time of worship and study this coming Sunday I would ask that you come prepared to find in your own Bible Proverbs 3:5-6 and not only read and meditate on it, but ask yourself the simple question… ‘in what part of my life right now; my situation, my circumstances, my doubts, my struggles. Do I need to trust in God’s promise that HE and HE alone will guide my path through this.
I want to thank the fraternity brother who forced me to memorize this 48 years ago (I actually can’t remember who it was!) But it sure has helped me learn to trust in God’s promises.
This Sunday come prepared to review, reflect, and apply God’s promises to your own life right now. It’s been a great summer. Let’s finish it well.
See you Sunday morning.
