As we head into 2009 will we take the narrow path that leads to life or the wide road that leads to destruction ? As His church we are instructed to follow Jesus Christ so that we may be transformed as well as conformed into His image….Are we moving down that narrow way ?
Do we desire to be ‘dispensers’ of His grace and truth in all aspects of our lives ?
Or do we save that for Sundays…if even at all !
Scripture says that they will know (followers of the Lord Jesus) us by our love for one another...The question then becomes - does anyone ‘know’ us ?
Does the message of the Gospel exude through our lives to those around us? Or are we no different than the world in the way we live our lives.
Are we His disciples ? Or are we disciples of the ways of the world ?
One of the issues that appears to be prevalent in our church today is that we attempt to ‘accomplish’ what we earnestly believe to be God’s will (ie: following the narrow path) through our own strength, by our own accomplishments, via the ‘power’ of man’s wisdom. This is not the Biblical admonition !
We are called to crucify our flesh, abide in Him, allow the power of the Spirit to fill us and lead us into all truth and direct us in all facets of our lives as well as empower us to fulfill the will of our Father. The road we are called to as disciples is narrow and it is a difficult road to follow when we seek to do it on our own accord – through our own power and worldly wisdom. Jesus told us that His burden would be light if we were to follow Him and we would experience the abundant life…the condition is that it must be in the way that He has provided – not our ways ! And His Word is truthful if we would let Him abide in us. Yet we, in our pompous, prideful and usually arrogant ways, try to do it our way (or should I say the world’s way) and then we wonder why the road is so difficult and the abundant life appears to be so devoid of joy !
From a worldly perspective 2009 appears to be a year that will be fraught with more trials and tribulations. More economic stress, more social unrest, more intrusion into our lives by our government, more ‘persecution’ for those who follow the narrow path...less of God and more of man !
But therein lays an opportunity for those who will listen to and obey that still small voice…those that will allow the working of the Spirit to direct their lives and empower them to do the will of the Father. For in difficult times humanity seeks after that which is beyond itself…for it knows deep within that man does not have the answer to life and joy and peace…and it is in times of difficulty that the soul hungers after truth.
People of the Lord get ready….prepare for the harvest that the Lord is gathering…walk the path that is the narrow way…be filled with the Spirit so that you may be vessels of grace and truth….stand firm in His truth…and may His loving-kindness flow through His disciples as we enter this year that the Lord has made…may we rejoice that our God is in control.
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