Avoiding Red Lights

This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3 NKJV

Choosing circuitous routes around the downtown area used to be my specialty. Traffic lights in our city were painfully long especially around the six railroad crossings that went right through the city center. A red light was an enemy and a frustrating obstacle designed to hold me back.

Then I got older. My vision, hearing and joints conspired to slow me down. The prospect of pulling out into three lanes of speeding cars no longer seemed like such a cinch. Then I began to see that traffic signals were an opportunity and not a barrier.

In the daily rush of our Christian life it is no different. God does not set up the traffic signals of commandments to be obstacles but rather to direct and protect us. John who had been the youngest disciple learned that Jesus never taught us anything to hold us back but only to help us run our race at a pace that will lead us to heaven!

Green Pastures

In the middle of struggles or temptation did you ever just wish things would quiet down and that life was simple and easy? I sure have. Then as I was reading through the 23rd psalm yesterday I came to the part about the dark valley. Oh I hate dark places in general and especially if they are a hiding place for enemies who are just looking for an opportunity to pounce. So as I thought about why a loving shepherd would lead his defenseless sheep through there I realized that it was because the green pastures and still waters are on the other side!

Time to Walk with God

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

We rush off on schedule to work and then hurry through dinner to watch our favorite Television show at night. We schedule an hour for lunch with a friend or squeeze in 30 minutes for an oil change for our car. Maybe we stop for a moment to pray as we wake up and sit through an hour at church on Sunday. But do we leave time to really take the time to listen to what God wants to say to us today?

According to God’s word there is time for everything. He has allowed us time for loving, hating, building tearing down, making peace and starting wars as well as for birth and death. He has opened His calendar and is waiting to see if in the middle of all our activities we will pause long enough to notice our need for time with Him.

God has promised an eternity of time to everyone who believes on His Son Jesus Christ. He has promised to wipe away every tear, invite us to His table and make a place for us in Heaven. He has promised us everlasting joy and rest. He has promised all the time in the universe to spend with Him.  But, have I taken time to to walk with Him today?