

Psalm 25:4-6 - Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long. Remember Your mercy, O LORD, and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Jesus said, "If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31b-32). In our psalm verses we pray that the Lord would teach us and help us to abide in the Word of God. Living in His Word, we find the truth that sets us free. It is not something we can accomplish on our own, so we pray, "Make me to know ... teach me ... lead me."
"You are the God of my salvation." That is the place to start. God called the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and formed them into a nation, a kingdom of priests to worship and serve Him. He gave them His commandments so they would walk in His ways. The lessons began with who God is and what He had done for them: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Exodus 20:2). Our lessons begin in the same place, with the Lord who saved us and set us free. We were dead in our sins, unable to walk in the Lord's ways. "But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him" (Ephesians 2:4-6).
In Baptism, we are united to Jesus' death and resurrection. Raised to new life, we are born anew. As newborn children of God—infants, children, or adults, yet all newborn—we begin the lifelong lessons of walking in the Lord's ways. Our Savior holds us in His hands, just as little children learn to totter along, securely supported by an adult. Children learn by watching and imitating the adults in their lives. As children of God, we keep our eyes on our Savior as by faith we see and hear Him in God's Word.
"For you I wait all the day long." Learning takes patience, as well as the humility to know that we still have much to learn. Following Jesus means bearing the cross. Yet as we follow and watch and learn, we continually review what we know and to whom we belong. Our learning continues as we are sheltered within the Lord's mercy, chosen by grace and secure in the steadfast love of the God of our salvation.
WE PRAY: God of my salvation, teach me to know Your ways and lead me in Your truth. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Does God teach us today in ways like He did the children of Israel so many years ago?
2. Can you name some instances of how God has led you in your life?
3. Have you turned whatever cross(es) you are bearing over to Jesus? Is this a daily surrender?
Today's Bible Readings: Isaiah 37-38 Romans 5
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