Do You Know the Way?

 

This week a friend needed help with her computer. She’d recently moved so I put her new address into the GPS on my phone. The route seemed easy and straight-forward, but like life, it took me through heavy traffic, along some very narrow roads and an incredible amount of construction. While the journey took only twenty minutes, the WAY turned into a bit of adventure.

Following the way of Jesus is the same; at times easy, straight-forward and an adventure, and at times winding, narrow, with overwhelming stuff happening and certainly lots of construction and reconstruction.

In the OT, the word way is from the Hebrew word “derek” used figuratively to denote the course of a person’s life, often in connection with moral action and character and usually associated with the plan of God for how His people must live. This was first given to Abraham, then repeated to Moses:

Genesis 18:19. “For I have chosen (Abraham), that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

Exodus 18:20. “And you (Moses) shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.”

The way of the Lord is synonymous with who God is, His nature and character, even though this term is used as a metaphor for covenant obedience as in these words to Joshua:

Joshua 1:8. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

God’s way is filled with blessing but there are other ways described in Scripture. Of them, the OT says:

Proverbs 14:12. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Psalm 1:1–2; 6. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night . . . for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

For this reason, I need to carefully consider who I listen to, associate and align myself with, and what I think about lest I stroll down a path that is not only a waste of life but could lead to destruction.

In the NT, this term is also literal in the sense of a journey, but figurative as it focuses on the course selected for life. Jesus talks about that with this instruction:

Matthew 7:13–14. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

The most exceptional description of the way identifies it with the Person of Jesus Christ. He says that He not only shows the way, He actually is that way:

John 14:6. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. I’m thinking again of that squiggly red line on my GPS showing the way to my friend’s house. That is how to get there and Jesus is how to get to the Father, how to have a relationship with Almighty God and experience eternal life with Him. Jesus is God the Son and also the way that makes it possible for sinful humans to cross the abyss of sin that separates us from Him . . . Jesus is the bridge across, the way, the route. He laid down His life so I could be forgiven and He shows me the way of life God intends it to be lived. The GPS  may show other routes and many people have other ideas, but Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to the Father.

Other metaphors are used that amplify the idea of the way being a journey, a path, a manner of life, yet they are all summed up in Jesus. He is that way, my source of all that is needed to travel the route intended. My GPS is like Scripture, and the Holy Spirit is like the vehicle that carries me, and Jesus is like the line on the map, the route defined, the One who opened the way to me, who directs every step, not only guiding my feet but granting me peace as I go. I know I’m on the right track. He is the way of truth, of righteousness, and the only way of salvation and the only way of walking in newness of life and in love toward Him and toward others.

 

Family

Not only did our daughter surprise me by flying up here for my birthday, our two sons came also. We had a grand time with lots of laughter, sharing and thanksgiving. They pooled their resources and bought me a significant gift. I feel as if dropped into another world. Nice.

Another surprise is today’s devotional. It is about ministering to your children and starts off with a verse about the father of faith, Abraham . . .

“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18:19)

I did not become a Christian as a child nor was my father a man of faith until he was very old. Teaching my kids about the Lord was spotty and I’ve regrets that I didn’t know what to do or how to do it. These verses, again from today’s devotional reading, are a comfort to me . . .

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” (Psalm 127:1–5)

This weekend, I feel rewarded. Our kids do not often talk about God so we are not total assured of where they stand, but these verses make it clear that God is in charge and that parents often err in trying to push their children into a profession of faith before their hearts are renewed by the grace of God.

Jesus Christ is the Savior and calls people to Himself when He will. I cannot, not can I decide the proper time for that. I have known for years that it is far better to wait on God to do His work of grace than insist it should happen when I want it to happen.

My family and others that I pray for know the gospel. My role is to pray for them and seek God’s grace for them. Of course I am to be an example of faith and how to live by faith, but also to be transparent. No one can see Jesus through a hypocrite or in someone that puts on a façade of spirituality. I must be real.

Jesus, we wait on You to build into the lives of those we love the most and those we pray for every day. We know that You are in charge of them and of us and we can count on Your will to be done — in Your time and in the ways that You alone know are best. Thank You for the love and laughter we enjoy as a family and for Your goodness in our lives. We bless You from the bottom of our hearts.