I got lost driving to work this morning. It was rather irritating because I absolutely HATE to be lost and I absolutely HATE to be late. I was both this morning. Now you may ask, "don't you go to work every day? How in the world do you get lost going to a place you drive to and from everyday?" There are a couple reasons. As I was driving in this morning I encountered traffic and decided that I would take a short cut to avoid the traffic and possibly get to work earlier than I normally would.
If you know me (lol) you know that I talk to myself a lot...like full blown conversations with myself. It keeps me out of trouble...but I digress. Anyhow, as I was driving I discovered that a 5 minute shortcut was taking a little too long and I found myself saying out loud:
"Every time I try a new way I get lost."
I promise I heard God laugh at me and say "well that's what I've been trying to get you to understand. I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. (John 14:6)" I knew then that the reason I was in the situation I was in was that God was about to use this as a ministry opportunity. It ALWAYS happens and I thank Him for the gift.
The ministry in this was that I should’ve stayed on the tried and tested path and dealt with traffic. I knew the way to go, after all I drive it daily, I just didn't want to deal with the traffic (or tests/trials) that were on the path laid out for me. Much like our walk with God we know the way but take shortcuts to try and avoid the test and trials along the way .Never mind the benefits outweigh any of the emotions associated with "going through." Romans 5 teaches us that "... because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next."
The last part of that scripture is extremely important because as we all know there is an enemy who seeks to destroy us completely and totally. (John 10:10) Have you ever had a car ride in your blind spot? Most of the time you don’t know the car is there until you attempt to move and you nearly (or do) collide with the car. Satan is JUST like that. The Bible teaches us that he is clever and knows exactly what to do to cause us destruction. These things are called temptations. This morning I was tempted by a “short cut” when I knew full well the way to go. I feed into my selfish desires not to endure the traffic ahead and as a result I was late to work. Being late has consequences. The same holds true with God’s plan and path for your life. You WILL get to the destination He has for you but succumbing to your own fleshly desires may cause you to steer away from the path and ultimately cause you to arrive late. Late arrivals could cost you blessings or you may miss a very important lesson that will help you once you reach the place God has for you.
This was a powerful lesson for me this morning as I am in this very place in life now. I’m learning to stop and pay attention to what God says to me and ironically once I turned on my GPS it led me back to the EXACT point I steered away from the path. Thank you Abba for a second chance… I hear you LOUD and CLEAR.
Good Day Folks!
P.S. My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? Galations 5:16-18
