Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

We have to be taught how to do God’s will, because our rebellious human nature has no idea how to do it. I’m reminded of the Japanese pastor who was standing with me in the church kindergarten years ago who said, “If you don’t believe in original sin, just watch these children with me for five minutes!” For us to learn to do God’s will, however, our commitment to Him must be clear and strong. David is here reaffirming that commitment, that Yahweh is his God. In the West we don’t have much grasp of polytheism, but Japanese Shinto and Buddhism are both clearly polytheistic, to the point that a TV program went around asking temple worshipers if they knew what god was celebrated at that temple, and most of them had no idea! Formal religion aside, many people today worship human intellect, or even technology, or any of a number of other things. If we are going to do the will of the Creator, we need to have a clear fix on who He is, and get it straight in our hearts and minds that He isn’t just God, He’s our God. For that, though, we also need some grasp of His character, and David demonstrates that here as well, speaking of God’s Spirit as “deeply compassionate and gracious.” (The Japanese may be going a little far in expressing it that way, but the NIV is surely too terse in just saying “good.”) To really do God’s will, we need to trust that His way is best, even if it is difficult in the short term. That’s what Jesus was talking about when He spoke of the broad and narrow ways. (Matthew 7:13-14)

I was thankfully taught from infancy that God’s way is best, but that doesn’t mean I’ve always sought to follow it. There are a lot of things I “know” that I don’t always “do!” God, with great patience and persistence, continues to provide lessons to teach me, but sometimes I receive them and sometimes I don’t. My biggest issue is follow through, which tells me I need to be patient and compassionate with others who have the same problem.

Father, I got really disgusted with myself yesterday when I realized how many things I have let slide. That’s all too common! Help me learn what You are teaching me so that I will be faithful and dependable, Your disciple indeed, to take care of the details while drawing many to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!