God likes to go before us

“This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that the gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” (Is 45:1-2)

God likes to go before us.  In Isaiah 45, God’s word to Cyrus told him that God would subdue nations before him, open gates before him, and go before him.  The Lord told Cyrus that He was going to take his right hand.  All these things were so that kings would be stripped of their armor, gates would not be shut to Cyrus, and victory would be his.

If a man wants God to go before him, he will put God first in all he does.  There is a great temptation for men to go ahead, because they think that is what faith does.  Men act upon thoughts that seem good to them, not seeing that it may be their heart that is motivating them.  The heart is set on its own objects of love and can lead man into a life of looking for good, instead of waiting for God’s best.

To walk in God’s kingdom a man must not live for himself (2 Cor 5:15).  The conquests we desire, and victories over sin and the flesh and over love of the world are not in our hands to determine.  We must let the Lord lead us.  This truly is faith; to follow after the Lord.  Amen.