At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out; they kept the Lord’s charge, according to the command of the Lord through Moses (Numbers 9:23).
At the command of the Lord. That phrase grabbed me as I read this verse.
We, as Christians, move at the command of the Lord. We stay put at the command of the Lord. We set out at the command of the Lord.
The world teaches that we move at the guidance of worldly success, or at the awareness of what makes us happy, or what’s best for us. We move when we want to. We move when it looks like things will work out well for us.
According to the world, the course of our lives is up to us. If things go well for us, it’s because we worked hard, or made a good choice. If things don’t go well for us, it’s because we’re lazy or we made a bad choice. And sometimes, we get lucky or have a bad break. But usually, in this world, we take credit for our successes or get blamed for our failures. It’s the way the world works.
But God’s ways are not the world’s ways. His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
I’ve seen those led by the Lord who give up everything to follow Him, their jobs, their dreams, their worldly comforts. The world may call them failures and fools, but they gain the Lord, their souls, love, joy, eternal life.
We move at the command of the Lord. I have looked at my life and tried to figure out what I should do to take care of things. If things aren’t going well, I’ve looked back and wondered what I did wrong. I’ve tried to take credit for good circumstances and I’ve scolded myself and tried taking the blame for bad.
And then I’ve sought the Lord.
He directs my steps. He commands my life, my comings and my goings. My life is His.
Yes, I can make good choices and bad choices in this world. My life on earth will be affected. And the Lord will allow me to go my own way.
But I want His ways. I don’t want my ways. So I will lay down my life. I will give the course of my life to the Lord. I will move at the command of the Lord, whether or not it makes sense, or makes me happy, or seems best for me at the time.
If I have good circumstances, I won’t take credit; I will thank my God. If I have bad circumstances, I won’t take the blame; I will thank the Lord.
Because I will move at the command of the Lord. And He does all things well. He uses all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
My dear sibling in Christ, are you moving at the command of the Lord, or have you gotten caught up in the ways of the world? Seek Jesus. Ask Him. And move at the command of the Lord.
