Teach Me Your Paths

Introduction

This week is Vacation Bible School 2023.

Our theme this year is Twists and Turns...

The lessons will focus specifically on the life and ministry of Peter as a follower of Christ Jesus.

The key verse throughout the week is from Psalm 25:4.

Psalm 25:4 ESV

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

This morning we are going to look closely at this verse and verse 5 in order to see the challenge that it lays out, not simply to the kids who come to VBS this week, but just as much to all of us as well.

Body: Psalm 25:4-5

Psalm 25 in context

This is another Psalm of King David.

In this Psalm, David is crying out for guidance from God. He is facing enemies (we don’t know which enemies) and recognizes that the only hope is in his One True God.

Key Ideas:

Shame = to be let down or disappointed.

Something that, in the end, would turn out to be unworthy of one’s trust.

Thus, the point David makes is that those who put their trust in the Lord will never find Him unworthy of that trust.

But, this isn’t something that happens without human action in response to God’s initiating action.

God teaching and leading His people =

God teaches through His Word, through the Holy Spirit and through His people, the church. And He leads His people.

But, His people have to be willing to be led.

James Montgomery Boice: “...it is something that requires responsible learning, obedience, faithfulness, trust, and deep reverence on our part.”

We must understand this about our salvation:

Justification is solely the work of God through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross...

Sanctification, on the other hand, is both the work of God and our response to God...

Pleading with God to remember and extend His mercy and steadfast love, but to forget about the sins of David’s youth.

A confession of the faithfulness of God towards His people

Teaching on how to live as God’s friends.

Pleading for help under the current trials and tribulations.

Verses 4-5

These verses reflect the heart’s desire of those who truly follow the Lord, even in the midst of many trials.

To know the pathway that God would have for us and for God to lead us on that pathway, at all times, especially during times of difficulty.

In essence, it sets the foundation for the rest of the psalm, focusing on how to live our lives pleasing to God and receive a blessing from Him.

V. 7 - to have our sins forgiven

V. 9 - seek humility in our lives

V. 12 - revere God

V. 20 - finding refuge in Him

V. 21 - living an upright life

“Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.”

Both parts of this verse say, in essence, a very similar thing: that God would reveal His path to us, His people.

God’s “way” or “path” is something that all believers must prioritize in our lives.

Far too many professed Christians today are more concerned with fire insurance than with knowing and walking the path of the Lord.

Building on this, David says:

“Lead me in your truth and teach me...”

Not only does David want to know the way or path of God, he wants to be lead to God’s truth in his life.

It’s important to understand something here: if God is leading us, we will be growing in our faith and practice.

Leading isn’t done passively. Therefore, following isn’t done passively either.

And yet, far too many Christians today are “passive followers”, something that in reality doesn’t exist.

So David’s words here could be seen a dangerous, and yet immensely worthwhile prayer!

“…for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

David brings it back to the source of truth: the God of his salvation.

By saying he will wait, David is saying he will be patient, because he knows that God will ultimately bring salvation to His people.

Salvation from the standpoint of being saved from their current affliction.

So What?

This passage is a call to personal discipleship.

This is where is starts for all of us.

Am I really making my personal growth as a believer priority in my life?

How do we do it?

Look at the passage: personal discipleship is all about knowing and following the pathway of God. How do we do that?

Personal Bible reading...

In-depth Bible study...

Invest time in serving someone else for the sake of Christ Jesus...

This passage is a call to corporate discipleship.

While David focuses here on God leading him personally, we see in the last verse that there is a corporate leaning within the passage as well.

Discipleship that is solely personal will never help grow us into mature believers. We will be stunted.

Take Lydia’s volleyball team for example...

What does it look like?

Studying God’s Word with other believers...

Praying with other believers...

Serving with other believers...

Making discipleship of younger people one of the most important things we do as a church...

It’s not an easy time to be a young person…there are so many bad influences vying for their attention...

Church is making an increasingly small impact on the lives of young people...

Smaller churches in particular have in tough because we are competing for young people’s attention against mega churches with mega budgets and mega programs...

What’s the solution?

A church must be all-in when it comes to children and youth, or deal with the consequences of not being all-in...

This means that everyone in the church must see it as our responsibility to be part of praying for young people; reaching out to families; welcoming families when they come; participating in outreach opportunities; and supporting our ministries to these groups.

For example, we are baptizing a young lady this morning that many of you have known for years...

What is she going to need? Encouragement, guidance, wise advice, people who love her, people who will model Christian living, and the continual knowledge that this is a place that she is valued.

That’s what is unique about a church our size; we can give that special attention to individuals, if we will just take the time to do so.

You see, within this passage, we should see a call for the church to invest our time, talents and treasures into discipling people; particularly children and youth.

We might not all be teachers or youth leaders, but we can all be part of the lives of these young people who are here right now and those who come into the future.

“Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.”

How many of us would like to see twice as many kids a year from now here at the church during a children’s sermon as we had this morning?

It won’t happen by accident. We need to pray for it, invest in it, sacrifice for it, and be willing to go the extra mile for it.