Which Way to Go?

But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 1 John 2:11 NIV

Don’t you wish that following God’s guidance could be like entering an address into your GPS? Then knowing the right direction would be as simple as listening to the calm pleasant voice alerting us to turn at the next intersection.

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But finding the right career path, soul-mate or next apartment is not about knowing which way to turn. God’s word is clear that what matters to Him is in how we treat the people around us. In fact He tells us that we are stumbling through life because we are mistreating, manipulating or using others for our own advantage in ways that God calls hate. When we treat anyone with hate then we walk straight out of the presence of God and down a dark path. It reminds me of when we were driving home from Northern Vermont. The GPS in our car kept saying, “Satellite transmission lost”. We kept going the wrong way and sometimes even in circles until we stopped at a gas station and asked directions.  In the same way finding the right spiritual direction means following directions from someone who can show us the way. That someone is Jesus Christ, who loved us even when we were his enemies and showed us the way to His Home.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:11 KJV

No Fear in Love!

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 1 John 4:18

Have you ever stopped to wonder what you are afraid of? I know I do more often than I would like. I am afraid of Dentists, flying, death and decisions. I am afraid of losing loved ones and I am afraid of being alone when they are gone. Of course none of these are reasonable fears at all by the Bible’s standards. I am just saying these are my own battles.

The Bible also tells us to pray about everything so as I was praying about my fears, God spoke to my heart with a question this morning. “Are you afraid to pray?” As I thought about that the absurdity of it hit me in the face. If I was afraid to pray then I wouldn’t be praying! And I am not afraid to pray because I remember that Jesus taught me to begin praying with the words, “Our Father.” So why would God listen to my prayer? Why would He be willing to allow me (Or anyone else) come to Him with my problems, needs and desires?

The answer is wrapped up in the mystery of the God of love and the love of God! If that very same God of love who sent Jesus to teach us to pray is interested in listening to me; how much more because of the cross of Jesus Christ will He be ready to receive me when one day we stand before His throne?

Be blessed! Have a great prayer time with your Father today. We can live without fear because when we come to Him – He will cast out all we are afraid of and replace it with His perfect love!

 

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John 3:16

For God

The Only God

Who saw the dark and said – Let there be light!

So loved the world That He gave

The Loving God

Who chose before we were born

To be involved in our lives

His only Son

The Word of God

Made not only light

But breathe and life

For us

That whosoever believes in Him

The faithful God

Who looks beyond

Every human difference

Every division and failure

To see our hearts and needs

Would not perish

The Living God

Who is never weary

Invites us to drink

From His river that

Flows from heaven’s throne

But Have Everlasting Life

The Eternal God who dries every tear

Heals every sickness and forgives every sin

By the blood of Jesus Christ!