Teach Me Your Ways: by Deanna Marquart

Guest author, Deanna Marquart

This morning, I heard an interview on the radio with a man who founded a popular series of Christian videos for children.  I was surprised to discover the interview was focused on what he learned from having gone bankrupt and had to sell the company.  Of course, this news came as a surprise.  Although this happened a few years ago, I hadn’t heard about it.  But since it was a series that I had enjoyed, I decided to look on the web for information on what happened.  Amidst what I read, one element stuck out to me, and it is this element I desire to share.

Amidst the poor decisions he shared that had led to the downfall of his company, he had a burning heart’s desire to make an impact on today’s children with the message of God’s love and to influence them with godly values in a way that competed with today’s media.  And I wondered, why wouldn’t the Lord allow for this to happen?  The pressures on the youth today are even worse than when I was a child – and things were bad then!  Yet it seems the Lord has not blessed anyone to make a substantial counter-cultural voice for the youth to be influenced by.  Lord, why?

”For My thoughts are not your thought, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)

It was then a series of thoughts and images flooded my mind that made it all clear. 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 19:23) 

For the sake of preventing controversy, I shall refrain from trying to explain the other images.  Suffice it to say, the Lord brought to my focus two Christian industries that in the midst of spreading the Gospel en mass have in effect become just like the world in terms of the drive for self-exaltation, greed, envy, pride, judgmentalism, and other forms of corruption.  Should the Lord bless such a work, just because it “preaches” the Gospel?

This truth was a hard pill to swallow.  It seems as though the Lord prefers to work through the small rather than the large, even though the large to us seemingly has the greater magnitude.

[i]Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

Sure, I would have loved to have seen this company take off and take on the world!  But it pleased the Lord, rather, to work on this man’s heart by tearing down his pride instead.  

Show me Your glory, Lord!  Teach me Your ways.  Lead me in paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake.  Guide me in Your truth.  Let not wickedness be found in My heart before You.  Purify me, Lord.  Your ways are perfect, holy and just.  Be exalted among the nations!  Be exalted in the Earth!  Worthy is Your name!  Amen.