The Way

I usually don't get lost. I have a good sense of direction. Usually. But this morning, I made a wrong turn into a residential street and I wasn't sure where I was going. The street I was on turned into a T-intersection, so I turned right (in the direction I wanted to go). Then the street curved a bit. I turned right at the next T-intersection. I knew the general direction I wanted to go, so I eventually headed back that way. We were going to a store we've never been before in a not-so-nice area. Well, South Sacramento is kind of old and run-down. And it's a place you really don't want to get lost in. Thankfully, I found the street I was on and turned left at the next major intersection, to go to where we wanted to go. Eventually we found the place.

Being lost is not fun. But often, that's how we live our lives spiritually. We think we can do things on our own, and think we could find the way to heaven.

"If I do this and that, I will find my way."

"They say to say ten hail Marys and do penance for your sins...."

 "I feel like doing this and feel I need to do that." Boy, if we just rely on how we feel, we would never find the correct path.

So how can we know which way to go?

Jesus answered, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. The only way to the Father is through me."  -- John 14:6 (NCV)

Many of us in church have heard that before. Yeah, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. But have we really surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior? Many times, we just go through the motions of daily life, thinking just believing will save us. No, we have to give up ourselves to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Give our self-control over to Jesus. After all, He said, He is The Way!

No regrets, not this time 

I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind,

Let Your Love make me whole,

I think I'm finally feeling something.

'Cause just okay is not enough,

Help me fight through the nothingness of this life.

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions,

I don't wanna go one more day

Without Your all consuming passion inside of me.

I don't wanna spend my whole life asking

What if I had given everything

Instead of going through the motions?

Take me all the way,

Take me all the way.

The Motions, sung by Matthew West

Just like in the song, The Motions, we cannot get in the way of God's best for us. Often we get in the way of what God is trying to do in our lives. We make wrong turns. We don't quite follow God's directions, and that throws us off-course.

The other song that came to mind (and started this thought for this blog) is the Jeremy Camp song, titled The Way.

We can see the works of Your loving hands

With a hope and peace not made by man,

When You poured out Your grace and Your mercy

And held out Your arms so we could see

You bled for all mankind, and set the captives free.

Shine, bright

Let Your glory fill this land,

Lift high, the King of Kings and Great I Am,

Jesus, You are the Way,

You are the Way.

The Way, sung by Jeremy Camp

Let Jesus light the Way for our lives. He will, if we allow Him to work in our lives. God has given us free will. We have that freedom, yes. But if we are not focused on Jesus, we will always stray away from where He wants us to go.

The perfect illustration of this is Jesus as our Shepherd. Sheep usually go wherever they want. They wander away, just like us. But Jesus as Shepherd of our lives wants us to simply "Follow Him". Once we are focused on our Shepherd, we are on the path that is the safest for us, because He knows what is best for us. 

If you haven't ever decided to follow Jesus, now is the best time. Jesus will show us what is best for our lives. We just need to follow Him.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please forgive me because I have turned away from You. Please help me find the right way to go. Please forgive my sins and make me new. Lead me, Lord, and I will follow You. Thank You for Your awesome love for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, welcome to the family of God! The next step is to find a good Bible believing and teaching church. After all, the Bible is God's Word and instruction book for life. You cannot live a Holy Christian life on your own. You will need the encouragement of people just like you, going through life. That is what fellowship in the church is all about. And it helps to have people along side of us (along with Jesus) to help keep us on the right path and follow The Way.

Blessings,

Garret

On Star... How Can I Help?

Lately I've been blogging on or around holidays. But something was bugging me this weekend when a guest speaker spoke at church this weekend. For those who go to Bayside (the church I am a member and attend), you'll know who I'm referring to. Otherwise, he will remain nameless.

One of his main points was: The Holy Spirit came to change our life, not fix it. This statement, at first disturbed me. I mean, if our lives can't be fixed, then WHO can fix it? One of my Facebook friends then posted on their wall: Jesus Christ came to change our life, not "fix" it. Then I replied, if He can't fix our lives, then WHO can fix it?

Then I noticed the discrepancy. Do you see the difference?

So many times as Christians, we equate the three persons of the Trinity, we often blur each of their unique purpose. Sure, Jesus Christ is equated with God the Father (John 10:30), but from there, their roles become more specific.

Jesus is called The Christ (or The Anointed One, John 5:23); the Bread of Life (John 6:35-40); the Light (John 3:19-21); Savior (John 4:42); the Lamb of God (John 1;29, 36; 1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:19); the Door (John 10:9); the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14-15); the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6); the True Vine (John 15:1,5); Friend (John 15:15); Master (Luke 17:13); Healer (James 5:15); the Rock (Ps. 18:2, 19:14); along with My Protection (Ps. 31:2-3); and Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13).

Those are the names and functions of Jesus, also my Lord (Acts 2:36, 1 Cor. 8:6, Phil. 2:11, 1 Pet. 3:15). I think you get the idea.

The function and purposes of the Holy Spirit are different. He was sent to us as our helper (John 14:16-17) in-dwelling in believers (Rom. 8:26) and is our guide (John 16:21). The Holy Spirit tells us the Truth about sin, being right with God and judgement (John 16:8). Basically, the Holy Spirit leads us (Gal. 5:18). That is why the Holy Spirit cannot fix us! That's not the purpose of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit is often misunderstood because we can see the attributes of God the Father and Jesus Christ throughout the Bible. The Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost, in Catholic terms) seems a bit more ominous because He is living today within believers of The Christ.

I know in my circumstances, and I'm sure a lot of other people, we cannot fix our problems on our own. That is why I was confused. If God can't help me, who can? Father God, Creator and Sustainer of Life is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. If Almighty God cannot help me, I'm in deep doo-doo!

The Truth is, we do not have to worry with God in control. But often we do worry. What if the creditor messes up my credit rating? What do I do if (and when) I'm foreclosed? What if that lump is a cancerous tumor?

God is still in control. We cannot change our circumstances. But then I hear stories of miracles happening. That's the "God stories" we need to tell. Like in the speaker's final point, His (the Holy Spirit's) primary purpose is to make GOD look good, not us. Now, that makes sense.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is different from Jesus Christ's ministry, in that we are inhabited with the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Holy Savior. Jesus did the saving (His sacrifice). The Holy Spirit guides our lives to live for Him. We cannot mix up their purposes.

Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Until then, you haven't been infused with the sweetness of the Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord, I need you in my life. Forgive me for I have sinned against you. I trust that You will cleanse me from my sins and help me to live my life for You. Please grant me Your Holy Spirit so I can walk with you daily and learn to love You more, and to love Your people more. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


If you just prayed that prayer, welcome into the Family of God! Also ask God to guide you through the Holy Spirit in you. Amen.

Blessings,
Garret