Rev. A.J. Ogden

The inspired writer of the book of Proverbs tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” We suffer many falls because we do not listen and obey that Scripture!

Notice he said, “In all thy ways acknowledge him.” That should be our first and foremost business to acknowledge him. Proverbs 3:6, if you will notice, has 12 words. If we put a partition down the middle of that verse you would see the first six words of it is our responsibility… “In all thy ways acknowledge him,” which is 6 words. But on the other side of that divider you see, “and he shall direct thy paths.” Those last 6 words are God’s job of directing our paths.

Too many times we skip our side of that wall and try to direct our own little paths only to be a big failure. It is God’s responsibility to direct our path, but we jumped over that wall and try to do his job. Stick to your job, Christian. He tells us to acknowledge him in all our ways. Do it when skies are blue, when storm clouds arise and threaten your safety. Do it when it’s easy, when it’s hard, when it seems impossible. Just acknowledge him even if the world is upside down. Do it in health, in sickness, even until death.

As ministers we need to acknowledge him when the crowd is large, when it’s very few, when no one comes to hear. Do it when there seems to be no hope. Do it even if all Hell breaks loose. Do it when the world is very unfair (it usually is that way). Acknowledge him even if it costs you your life. He gave his life for you. Those six words tell us of our duty toward God.