Sometimes the shortest distance isn’t always best.
“Now when Pharaoh had let the people go God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” Exodus 13:17
God had appointed Moses to set the captive Israelites free from the oppression of the Egyptians, and God had an appointed plan for them to walk out. The Israelites probably wondered why they had to go through the wilderness to the Red Sea, even though it seemed better and faster to go to the land of the Philistines. Besides, what were they going to do when they got to the Red Sea?
I must admit my mind can ask similar questions. If I was one of the Israelites I would walk the path but I would probably be tempted to grumble, and try to assert my ideas and suggestions. I must confess, I sometimes still do.
God has appointed Jesus Christ as the Way to lead us in the paths of righteousness and now we have unlimited access to God’s throne of grace. God has an appointed plan and specific works He has prepared for us to walk out.
I have left the slavery to sin and entered into life abundant through Jesus Christ, and yet sometimes I wonder why is He leading me through the wilderness, and how and when will the Red Sea part? However, when I remember God is love I settle down. I meditate on His word and wonder in the sovereignty and character of God. I remember His purposes and plans are not to harm, and they extend beyond my own life and what I can see.
God sets a hedge of protection around us, helping us to stay on the path. He has given us Jesus Christ as a settlement for all those times we get off the path, He has given us the Holy Spirit to convict us to get back on the path. As children of God we have all we need for this walk of faith. This path of righteousness is where we experience abundant life and joy, because we are walking in the presence of God.
Whatever wilderness God is leading you through, you must remember He knows the future, He knows the consequences, He knows your heart, He knows what’s best. Yoke yourself to Jesus Christ and He will lead you in the way you should go.
May you enJOY your journey with Jesus and continue to walk by faith, for that is how the righteous live.
“Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.” (Ecclesiastes 11:5)
My son recently lost his first tooth! When it was first loose I asked him if he wanted us to pull it out and he gently replied,
“No mama, I want don’t want anyone to mess with it. I want it to come out when it’s time.”
Those last few words stayed in my heart: “when it’s time…”
I thought of how I usually don’t ‘wait’ for the appointed time whatever ‘it’ is. I’m usually eager to get ‘it’ done! It is from this habit I have another confession…
Confession:
I can become easily distracted and try to rush the salvation of others.
I never thought witnessing could turn into selfish ambition but it can—I now call it “salvation ambition.” I realize it’s harder with my family because I want them to know God and Jesus Christ so badly, I sometimes over step my boundaries by looking away from Jesus Christ to myself or to their walks with Him. I anxiously want to know my role, my part in their salvation.
I receive God’s gentle correction when I read John 21:1-23:
Peter had just told Jesus he loved Him and was given instructions to tend and shepherd the lambs and sheep of Jesus Christ and to FOLLOW JESUS but Peter still asks:
“Lord, who is the one who betrays You?….Lord, and what about this man?” (20,21)
Peter gets distracted…
What was Jesus’ response?
“…If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
God has been using these passages for the past 2 years to help discipline my walk with Him and stop looking at the walks of others. Jesus is the path—the Way the Truth and the Life and I need to watch Him and do not look to the left or right but keep my eyes fixed on Him, the Author and Perfecter of faith.
Examining and ‘judging’ the walks of others in my flesh has been a temptation and distraction and I repent…that is one of the reasons I am off Facebook. God has convicted me to put my face in His book and write about my faith in a book for my children {my journal} to share the stones of remembrances He has given our family.
God has reminded me my role in evangelism and making disciples is to share the Gospel, tend His sheep and lambs, and follow Him.
As I follow Jesus Christ, will there be distractions? Yes! They come in many forms; one for me is selfish ambition. For example I want my children to be saved. I ask Jesus, ‘will they be the ones to betray You?” Jesus responds, “If I want {them} to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
I humbly say to my Savior since nothing is hidden from Him:
“But I’m their mama and I love them, and their salvation matters to me because I want them to love and know You, I want them to live with you forever.” There was the selfish “salvation ambition”:
I. Want.
Jesus Christ reminds me the cost of being His disciple:
“…If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24
Did you catch that? BEFORE I can FOLLOW Jesus Christ I must deny myself…take up my cross (crucify myself) THEN Follow Him. That means deny my ‘selfish ambitions.’
I ask God, “what about when you say to make disciples of all nations?”
He reminds me the making of disciples is not done in my strength but true disciple making is done in His power, the power of His Holy Spirit. He can use me when I am obedient and empty myself and am filled with His Spirit. When I am His vessel filled with His Spirit my utterances are His; I don’t move until He tells me to move.
I have a new perspective…
· My vision is Jesus Christ
· My goal is obedience to God
· The strategy: The Holy Spirit
The goal is not forcing salvation on others like my children, the goal is obeying Jesus Christ by humbling myself everyday and following Him.
I must follow Jesus Christ, listen to Him, trust and obey Him so that I can tend the lambs (my children) He has given me and I can intercede and pray for them and ask God to give me opportunities to share the Gospel in deed and truth with them, knowing only He enlightens people, and shines into their hearts giving them understanding of His Word. Only He draws others to Himself. God does use human vessels (believers) but it is done in His strength so that the “surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves”.
So what is my assignment?
Love God with all my heart mind soul and strength and teach my children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
The truth is, God wants them to come to Him too {Matthew 18:14; 2 Peter 3:9;}. I need to trust in God, hope in Him, wait on His timing and be patient and pray. When the opportunity to be the hands and feet and mouth of Jesus Christ comes I am compelled to sow and water the seeds as He leads praying He will cause a growth.
Jesus I am resting, resting…
“So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:7-9
Altar of Heaven 