Jesus

Straight Paths

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Some years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Nepal. One of the most memorable events was visiting a church in the foot hills of the Himalayas. We stayed the night before in Birtamod and in the morning hired a 4 wheel drive taxi to take us. The first stop that day was to a church in a refugee camp about an hour from the city. That afternoon we continued up into the hills and bounced our way up an incredibly beautiful yet barely passable track. Every time we lurched back and forth between the side of the high hill and the drop off I closed my eyes while the driver and my pastor laughed. Eventually the vehicle came to a full stop where the road ended and we climbed another hundred yards up to where the church had been built.

While the road had been rough for me I was most amazed to learn that the congregation had actually spent the previous week repairing it so we could come. They normally simply walked to the church but they had sacrificially worked for days so we could come to visit!

In the letter of Hebrews I might have missed what God is asking me to do were it not for our good friends in Nepal. He expects us to prepare straight paths. Yes we re saved by grace but grace is not an invitation to stay at a 5 star resort. God is calling us to prepare with all our might for a visit far more important than of any person. We are to prepare with all our might for the return of Jesus Christ: the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings! We are to repair the path raise up the low places level out the rough road for the feet of Jesus to walk. What part of the road has God called you to work on today?

 

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Joy

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I used to tell the men who worked for me “My job is to make your job easier.” usually this involved explaining why I wanted them to do something a particular way. I believe it is a natural tendency for us all to think that the boss has only his own interests at heart.

Maybe that is also what Jesus is trying to tell us. He wants us to know that the things He teaches us to do are not just about making Him happy. He wants to make our job easier and our load lighter by giving His joy to us. The kind of joy that Jesus gives is the same joy that guided His steps all the way to the cross. It was a powerful unstoppable joy that didn’t end with the tomb being sealed by soldiers. It wasn’t extinguished in darkness behind the stone. It was a joy that waited patiently for resurrection to a life that was greater than any enemy: even death! The impact and power of this joy He gives can now be ours with nothing able to take it away!

When Jesus Slept

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If a piece of steel is bent back and forth enough times it will become fatigued to the point of structural failure. Do you sometimes feel distressed to the point of giving up? Jesus’ disciples felt they had reached their breaking point. They had been pressed to the limit day after day often with little sleep and scarcely a moment to eat. All this they had endured because every day Jesus knew what to do next. He healed the sick gave sight to a man who had never been able to see and even raised His friend Lazarus from the grave. But on that night when Jesus took the bread and cup and told them of His coming death they were left in spiritual shock.

Jesus prayed in agony just a stone’s throw away but they fell asleep: and not just once or twice but three times! Their hearts were overwhelmed by fear and sorrow for what lay ahead. Do you feel like His disciples tonight? It is okay. Jesus was the Son of God but not superman and He doesn’t expect us to be either!

Don’t misunderstand He does expect us to watch and pray. But Jesus was weary and rested by the well. Jesus was hungry and ate real food at parties. Jesus knew sorrow and He wept at the grave of His friend. Jesus was so sleepy that He even fell asleep in a boat in a storm! The secret Jesus had was not super strength but rather yielding His weaknesses to God. There He found a strength that carried Him all the way to the cross. We must remember that it was not till after Jesus slept in the boat that He awoke and calmed the storm!

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:38 NKJV