Contemplative Bible Reading

Hosea 14:9 (New Living Translation)

9 Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those with discernment listen carefully.
The paths of the Lord are true and right,
and righteous people live by walking in them.
But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.

I have always liked the concept of following God and the picture of following God by walking the same path that God walks. I think that comes from a teacher reading us the book “The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan when I was 8 or 9 years old.

This verse tells us that the paths walked by God are true and right. Who wants to walk in a path that is false and wrong? Who wants to walk along a path that causes tripping, stumbling, and falling face down in the mud? Why would anyone want that? Still, many do. Still, I do on some days. Why?

Following God is how righteous people live. Am I righteous? On some days using some definitions of “righteous,” I am. Still, let’s be honest folks. I flop and fall and all sorts of bad on occasions and days and … gosh, how does God tolerate me? Still, God does tolerate me. I am on God’s path. Sometimes I follow closer than other times, but I am on God’s path.

Thank you God for the path.