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.

When I was a child, someone read to me The Pilgrim’s Progress. This book was written in 1678. Folks understood the Bible even way back when. We aren’t the first to read the Bible and gain some understanding. The life of a Christian was described as walking from here to there. I have always liked that concept.

The above verse from the prophet Hosea amplifies that concept of walking along a path with and towards God. There is a path that the LORD walks. The righteous walk along that path, and it seems good to them. Some try that path, but stumble and fall. Those who stumble are carrying heavy and awkward loads that make walking almost impossible. If they would only drop those loads, they could walk the path.

I have days when I carry too much and carry an unbalanced load. All I have to do (yikes, never as easy as it sounds) is drop that load on the side of the path and walk towards God. Easier said that done? No, not really. I just like to think it is, sometimes. How does God put up with me? Thank God for grace.