Encouragement
Sometimes La Moyne will refer to Psalms 138:8:
"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me".
Then she will jokingly say, "Well that ought to keep the Lord busy!"
(referring to family concerns and our health)
That verse also says,
"His mercy will endure forever, so forsake not the works of His hand."
This paper will hopefully help you (and us).
Here are 2 beautiful times when God made a way:
The Crossing of the Red Sea. (Exodus 14)
The people were looking back to Egypt. It's ok to look back, but don't camp there!
Moses said, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."
Then in God's time, He said, "Go forward" .....and they crossed over the Red Sea.
Crossing the Jordan River at flood time....to get to the Promised Land.
(Joshua 3:17 and 4:1)
God made a way and they went 'clean over the Jordan'.
In both instances, God made a way and He will for us!
See also Psalms 107 about their 'rejoicing'.
Never forget that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever...
and He will never leave us...nor forsake us. (Heb. 13: 8 and 5)
God has no favorites, just 'intimates'!
For the Israelites it was called 'The Promised Land'....
but for us, every day is Promised Land because of God's Promises (II Cor. 1:20)
This song (which is one of La Moyne's favorites) says it well:
"God Will Make A Way"
(Words and music by Don Moen)
God will make a way,
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.
By a roadway in the wilderness, He’ll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain
He will do something new today.
God will make a way,
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.
Let us look at the way of the Lord:
1) IT IS THE WAY OF THE CROSS
This is His Will now...and Heaven comes later.
A hymn that we used to sing, "The Way of The Cross" has under the title:
"Deny self and take up your cross and follow me" (Matt. 16:24)
The 1st verse:
"I must needs go home by the way of the cross
There's no other way but this.
I shall ne'er get sight of the gates of light,
If the way of the Cross I miss.
It is sweet to know as I onward go....
The way of the Cross leads Home."
Man-made plans just will not work when it comes to our greatest need....Salvation.
(Prov. 14:12 and 16:25)
"There is a way which seems right, but the end of it is the way of death/destruction".
(See also Matt. 7:13-14 and Isaiah 30:21)
2) GOD'S WAY IS THE WAY OF CONVERSION
In his classic book, 'Once Upon a Tree', Calvin Miller asserts:
"The Cross is the central event in time and eternity.
The Crucifixion of Christ is the ONLY historical event that demands a response from every individual. You can NOT treat the Cross with the same 'momentary interest' with which you receive a news report.
The Cross is not a mere religious symbol, but the focus of history! Thus, when accepted into a life, it brings about conversion which has effects for time and eternity!"
A little boy who was at church for the first time, saw Christ on the Cross.
He was almost crying as he asked,
"Why doesn't someone DO something to help that man?"
That's a good question...and the answer is clear...as God DID something...and still does for anyone who will believe.
Isaiah 55:8:
"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord."
God's Way is 'walking in the right direction' and with the right Person.
To do this, the Roman Road to Conversion tells us 'how'.
It will do you well to memorize Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8 and 10:9-11. 'Walk and talk it'.
3) GOD'S WAY IS THE WAY OF COMPASSION
God so loved everyone....now we are to love everyone!
I Cor. 13 tells us of this love:
a) The value of love (vs. 1-3)
Nothing else compares to God's Love.
People try to substitute for it, but God's Love through Christ has no substitute.
b) The virtues of love (vs. 4-6)
We can have all of these through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
c) The victory of love (vs. 8-13)
God's love never fails! So much now is temporary...what we need is the permanence of God's Love through Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. I call this kind of love, 'Grace received and Grace given!'
4) GOD'S WAY IS THE WAY OF COMMITMENT
It takes commitment in order to deny self and take up your cross daily and follow Him.
Early on, the Christian Way was just called 'The Way' for there was/is no other way!
We can be committed to many things, but life is not about 'things' but about The Person.
If we know Christ personally and commit to Him, we will be people of:
a) PRAYER
Jesus set the example for us when He rose up early and found a quiet place to pray.
The Scripture also says, "We ought always to pray and not to faint/falter."
b) WORSHIP
Good private and public worship leads to 'worth-ship'.
c) EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS (Matt. 28:18-20)
This Scripture tells us that God's Plan, done in God's Power...
will never lack God's Presence and Promises!
CONCLUSION:
My college pastor, Dr. E.F. "Preacher" Hallock, used to characterize the Christian life with the illustration of a train....and one of a kite.
The train might say, "I want to be free from this track and do my own thing!"
For a train to function, it must stay on the track.
God has laid out His Track for us in the Scriptures.
We must not leave that track...but follow it to the end.
It definitely gives direction and purpose for our lives.
Also, the Christian life is like a kite. God tugs at our hearts saying,
"This is the way...walk you in it".
The kite might say, "I want to be free"....but if it were free, it would lead to destruction.
The kite fulfills it's purpose when it's in the hand of the owner...
and we can find OUR fulfillment in God's Hands!
May God Bless you richly as you submit to Him...Who WILL make a way for you!
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