“My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.” (Psalm 17:5 NIV)
Applying God’s word to our lives illuminates the path He wants us to follow. We all have different paths. Our purposes vary in life, but God doesn’t. His word is unfailing and true. The path is narrow, but the rewards endless:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)
The right path leads to life.
In a world full of choices, God simplifies the options. Jesus gave us a Great Commandment: Love God, love others (Mark 12:30-31 NIV). He also gave us the Great Commission: Go and make disciples (Matthew 28: 19-20 NIV). Whatever situation we are faced with, we can narrow our options by following Jesus’ words. We choose to love people, or not. We choose to share Jesus with others or not. Every day, in every situation, we have the opportunity to choose how we respond.
Sometimes we falter. Sometimes we veer off the path. We don’t respond in love. We choose not to share Jesus. We miss our opportunity to let God’s light brighten someone else’s day. When we swerve from the path, just get back on it.
When I first started my career in retail, I managed a store in Williamsburg. I was able to ride my bike to work. Carrying my work clothes in my backpack, every morning I’d follow the same route. The majority of the road was long and straight. The asphalt had a white line that marked the side of the road. A small “path” was created as a result. Between the white line and the edge of the road was a gap a couple of feet wide. I tried to keep my bike tire on the narrow path. Every now and then I’d veer off the path, crossing the white line or going onto the dirt. Whenever this happened, I’d get back on the path as quickly as possible. When I think of “the narrow road” I think of those days riding my bike to work.
The narrow road is impossible to stay on all of the time. Our humanity gets us off track every now and then. Allow yourself grace. Forgive yourself when you cross the white line. Just correct your course, get back on the path and keep on going.
God knows we’ll falter, He just doesn’t want us to stop. He wants us to keep going. He wants us to keep trying. He knows our hearts are in the right place. Keep following your chosen path. Just take one step, then another.
Question of the Day:
Have you veered off the path lately?
Further Reading: 2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11 NIV, Romans 7:1-13 NIV, Psalm 17 NIV, Proverbs 19:22-23 NIV
