Hi how are you all today? I am well. I went to my hometown over the weekend for my best friends husbands birthday. It was great to catch up with them and their family.
Sometimes in the busyness of life, we forget that friends need us and we need them. Let’s be more intentional about it – talking to me mostly.
This week I want to talk about which road we are on. In this year of reimagining we imagine a lot about how God is going to minister through us to others. But we often forget that this generally comes out of a life that has been changed by God and is continually being changed.
Matthew 7 verses 13 to 14 state:
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
This verse is telling us that there are two roads – a narrow one and a wide one. When we are driving in our cars which one do you feel safer on? It is generally the wide road. The narrow roads tend to be scary. Wide roads mean depend on me whereas narrow roads mean depend on God.
So as a follower of God, in this year of reimagining, how do I stay on the narrow road? Great question! I believe the answer lies in obedience. When we are obedient to God, no matter what, we need to always deny ourselves to be obedient. Being obedient means sacrificing what I want to do and doing what God wants me to do.
1 Samuel 15:22 in the Message Bible is very strong in this and it states:
Then Samuel said, Do you think all God wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what God tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around God is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to God’s command, he says No to your kingship
Let’s look at how God wants our obedience to be demonstrated using the above verse.
1. Plain listening to God. Have you ever had a conversation with someone and knew they weren’t listening to you? It can be a little frustrating. But what is more frustrating is when we listen only to answer. We are not really hearing and comprehending.
The first thing we need to do when God speaks to us through impression, His Word, dreams, the pastors sermon, for example is to pay attention and listen. We may need clarification which we may or may not get. Focus your whole attention on God and what He is saying to us.
2. Doing what God says. God may speak the end vision to us like you are going to pastor. But often God will speak to us step by step. For example He told me to write this blog. I didn’t know what a blog was. I had to do some quick research to find out and then I just had to start. God directs our steps as we start.
Sometimes doing what God says could feel to us as if it’s mundane. For example, serve on the serve team at church or bake a cake for the neighbour. Just do it as oftentimes God tests our obedience in those little things.
3. In the obeying, don’t allow pride to take root. It is an honour to obey God and not a privilege. It is an honour to serve God not a privilege. This verse states to not get self important. We can only obey God in areas that He has given us the gifts to do so.
James 1:17 states:
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning
The good and perfect gifts in our lives come only from God so don’t get prideful thinking it is all you as you will end back up on that side road of self.
This week purpose in your hearts to walk the narrow road with Jesus and listen and obey Him in everything.
Bless you and keep living the life God intended for you.
Karen
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