This week’s devotion…
“Why Did The Christian Cross The Road?”
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’ –Isaiah 41:13
Do you ever do this?
When I find myself at a stop sign, even if the cross street is a one-way street, I still look both ways. I don’t know what I’m thinking…perhaps there’s some confused car driving the wrong way? I laugh every time I do it, but I can’t drive through an intersection without looking both ways first.
It’s such an ingrained behavior in me that it’s hard to remember a time when I didn’t do that. But there was a time. I have vague early memories of my mom or dad scolding me for darting out into traffic, and then grabbing onto my hand to rush me safely across the intersection.
Isn’t it amazing? Something so ingrained in us, like looking both ways before crossing the road, is a learned behavior. It feels natural now, but for a few years early on we were clueless. We needed help.
That’s why moms, dads, and other beloved family members are so important. They held our hand as we learned. They helped us across the busy road and kept us safe. If you have children then you’ve experienced what it’s like to be the one doing the hand holding. Quite an important responsibility.
As you read this devotion today you may feel awfully grown up. Whatever your age may be, chances are you’ve been crossing streets on your own for quite some time. But consider this: You are still a child of God.
You are a child of God. You have much yet to learn. There are many roads you have yet to travel, many obstacles to overcome. One day you may be an expert on overcoming addiction, or refraining from lying, or showing forgiveness, or thinking loving thoughts, etc., but today, there are areas of your faith in which you are still just taking your first baby steps.
So here’s the Good News. God is here. As is written in Isaiah 41: “I, the Lord Your God, hold your right hand….Do not fear; I will help you.”
God is standing there with you, at the edge of whatever busy road you must travel, holding your hand. Teaching you to look both ways. Helping you to take your careful steps.
May Lent be a time of taking baby steps. Of listening and being obedient to God. Of identifying the ways you need to grow, and learning how…
To Get To The Other Side.
Have a great week,
Mitch
