November 14 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Proverbs 3:1–8

Devotional

In your mind picture two men walking side by side along a path. One of them keeps his hand tightly on the arm of his companion. This man is blind. He can not see where he is going and depends on his faithful guide. He trusts his guide and is willing to follow him, assured that he will be safely brought to his destination. This blind man has unconditionally placed his trust in his guide.

Now imagine that the blind man has no confidence in his guide. Suppose he constantly pulls his arm and says, “We have to go this way.” The blind man acts as if his sightless eyes are more reliable than the seeing eyes of his guide. What a ridiculous situation this would be if the guide actually followed the directions of the blind man. If a catastrophe overtakes them, the blind man surely must acknowledge that it was his own selfwill and self-conceit that caused his downfall.

The foolishness of this blind man is really our image, beloved. As a result of sin we also go through life as one who is blind. We cannot discern what is good for us. Yet we are of the opinion that we are allknowing, and whenever God’s providence contradicts our plans we attempt to pull at the reins of God and tell Him, “We should go this way.” In spite of our blindness we still feel competent to correct God and guide our own course.

This situation is worse than the self-will and selfconceit of the blind man. If the Lord were to oblige our self-will then we would perish in an everlasting catastrophe. Blessed are we if we follow the Lord with closed eyes. In blind faith we are to trust that God’s ways are the best. Only in our blindness can we give complete, unreserved trust. Real faith has closed eyes. We find this very hard. Yes, it is difficult for us to do nothing but blindly follow. It is difficult, yet it is very easy. God’s grace teaches us that nothing is easier than simply following.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.