Day 21, Year 1

Seeking God’s Righteous Decisions 

“Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, As a nation that has done righteousness And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God.” (Isaiah 58:2 NASB)

For believers who want to walk on the path of God’s righteousness, we need to make telling His truth a daily habit. There is eternal life on God’s righteous path. We who do not wish to depart from God should seek Him daily to walk in His path. Today’s verse indicates that those who belong to God and practice righteousness delight in always seeking Him. We adhere to His ordinance or principle to draw near to Him and seek His just or righteous decisions. In a Chinese version, the word “decision” in today’s verse is translated as “verdict.” Christians who humbly seek God daily, love Him, draw near to Him, understand His words and laws, and eventually obey His will before we make decisions.

In daily lives, we might sometimes encounter moments of uncertainty, where it is difficult to discern true or falsehood, right or wrong. We need to seek God’s principles and decisions or verdicts, especially during these moments. However, if we do not have the habit of drawing near to God in our everyday lives, how can we receive His decisions when needed? Hence, besides reading and meditating on God’s words every day, we also need to seek His perspective on different people and things from time to time. This is especially true when decisions have to be made despite uncertainty. But when certain decisions are not pressing and allow for considerations, it is best for us to wait on God and seek His guidance first.

Today’s verse does not explicitly mention that whoever asks for and receives God’s righteous decisions, needs to act accordingly. It is necessary for us to firmly decide to follow God’s decisions regardless of what they are. Therefore, seeking God’s righteous verdicts is also a time to learn to set aside our opinions. Otherwise, we might act as though we are the judge above God, arrogantly passing judgments on Him and His verdicts. God resists the proud, and pride leads people to destruction. Moreover, some people who were once close to God ultimately chose to depart from Him. This is often not because God’s righteous decisions are unintelligible, but because they are hard to follow. If you find yourself in such a situation, it is essential to earnestly pray for God’s strength and wisdom to carry out His decisions so as to walk in His path till the end.

Reflection questions:

1) What difficulties do you encounter in seeking God daily and understanding His way? How would you receive His help to solve them?

2) Are you truly willing to make it a habit to seek God’s righteous decisions in every moment, especially in times of uncertainty? Why?