Thursday, January 17, 2013

Going My Way


“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”   Revelation 2:5

I’ve heard it said in frustration before: “Oh…things just aren’t going my way today!”  We, of course, get what people mean by that.  It seems that when ‘things’ go our way, we have a good day.  When ‘things’ don’t go our way, we tend to have a bad day.  Right?  And wouldn’t it be a grand existence if things ALWAYS went our way? 

What if somehow we could magically make all the traffic lights green when we were crossing town?  What if we could eat whatever we want and never gain a pound, or have cavities in our teeth?  What if we could spend and spend, and buy anything and everything we ever wanted…and never go over drawn?  What if we could have anything or anyone we wanted at any time?  Cool huh?  How wonderful would it be if all of life always went our way?  Pure, unadulterated self-indulgence...  That would really be ‘heaven’ wouldn’t it?  Or would it? 

In Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, King Solomon describes his own experiment in self-indulgence: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.  Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” 

It was empty.  A ‘chasing after the wind.’  Do you ever catch yourself chasing the wind?  I think we all do.  When we decide that life is all about ourselves…our wants, our needs, our ambitions… When we all but require that life ‘go OUR way.’…we ultimately find it to be empty.  It is indeed a fruitless, frustrating, disappointing ‘chasing after the wind.’  Nor can we be our own compass.  Once we realize life is not all about us or our indulgences, we cannot guide ourselves to what is right, or beneficial, or righteous.  Not when every atom of our flesh says that life is about ‘Me! Me! Me!!!’  We need outside management.

A Better Way
At 7:30 this morning, my friend and brother in the faith Joe sent me a text message and encouraged me to have…not a good day, or a nice day…but a “Godly day.” That really reframes the day altogether doesn’t it?  Now it suddenly doesn’t matter if things go ‘my way’ or not.  In fact, I think I’d rather not have them go my way at all.  My way is a way laden with pitfalls and pattern sins.  On a daily basis, I need a way that is NOT my way.  Whether it rains or shines, whether circumstances ‘go my way’ or seem to work against me.  Whether I succeed or fail, it is not about me.  It is about me living God’s way. 

Focusing my vision on having a Godly day…tempering my actions and reactions on His character and love… Making the life and example of the Lord Jesus my compass, this is a much better way. 
There IS a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.  I need to be reminded daily that this is MY way.  I must surrender my determination to have or be what I want, or think I need, and follow a better way. 

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  A much better way!  Do this today…and as my friend Joe says: “Have a Godly day.”

Prayer
Almighty God, Lordship is a difficult task for us.  Surrender is so hard, because we feel the need to lead our own lives.  But we do NOT know what is best!  Please Father; work with us in your hands.  Lead us into your way. Help us to deny our own desires and tendencies, that we might have life – real life, and that more abundantly.  In Jesus’ name we pray,   Amen.

Submitted By Kerry Patton

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