January 21, 2023 – Reflection on “The Way!”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:6-7.

        ‘You are – Way maker, Miracle worker, Promise keeper, Light in the darkness, My God, that is Who You are!’ (Leeland).

         But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. Proverbs 4:18.

            When we plan a trip, we plan where we will find food and shelter along the way. The first time I read these verses from Hebrews 11, I wondered if Abraham knew where the McDonald’s were located and the best motels.

         By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith, he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:8-10.

         How would I know to trust those who gave me a message to go like Abraham? He left his homeland and his identity. He cared for his wife and servants who watched over the cattle.

         I remember when my Dad poured over the map with Mother on the best route to travel to Pike’s Peak. Abraham had no map. God told Abraham, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3.

         Listening to God, by Faith, Abraham lived. God worked on this. “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.

          The Way is our choice. To whom or what we will invest in our lives? And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:4-5.

       What is Truth? So, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32.

       There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19. God’s Truth is our map for choosing His Way to walk each day.

          Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4-5.

         Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:6-7.

        “These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.” Zechariah 8:16-17.

         Where does God’s Way lead? To our inheritance of eternal life and dwelling for evermore with God the Father. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord, you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Colossians 3:23-25.

        Where does life come from? All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:3-5.

         Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God, He created him; male and female, He created them. Genesis 1:26-27.

          What happens after we leave this earth in death? Another truth we can depend on is the promise of choosing God’s Way for our lives on this earth.

         “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-4. These are the words of Jesus, who was sent to die on the cross for our sins. His is our gift of salvation, and our inheritance.

      Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Psalm37:5-6.