03/19/2025
Does God lead you in the way you should go, and if so, what awaits at the end of your journey? This is what I am pondering this morning. Do we know the Person of the one who leads us and if so, do we need to fully understand where He is leading us to before we join Him in the journey? When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him did they know where they were going? When He tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him do we really know all that awaits us?
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 16:24-25 ESV
Often, we get tied up in the material things we pass in route to faithfulness and eternity. We see what others have or the apparent riches of the world and we long for them, even in our prayers. We get dismayed when We fail in life, or in obtaining some things we have determined to be of value in our faith... and we begin to drag our feet and whine about our problems or shortcomings. We even get discouraged when we can't apply our intellect to God's will and fully understand it. Pastor Oswald Chambers spoke of these things when he wrote:
"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading. It is a life of faith, not intellect and reason, but a life of knowing Who makes us "go." The root of faith is the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest snares is the idea that God is sure to lead us to success." - Oswald Chambers
If we trust in God, and have faith, we don't need to know where He is taking us... it is enough to trust in Him.
“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.”
Hebrews 11:8 ESV
In this scripture, Abraham didn't know where he was going, but he knew the character of God and had faith in His leadership; he believed that God was leading him to good. Do we trust like this?
Our discussion this morning touches on two topics that I have written and taught on before... character, and perseverance. As Pastor Chambers spoke of, we don't need to know where God is leading us if we trust and have faith in His character. We might have our own idea of where we are going, but that usually isn't the same place God has in mind.
Take this example for instance... What you do on your job is of little consequence to God outside of those character lessons He can teach you through it. The fact that you have great wealth means nothing to the creator of the universe, but what He can lead you to do with that wealth matters a great deal, and is a tool in teaching you such things as charity and loving your neighbor. We get so wrapped up in asking the Lord for things that we lose sight of why we should be asking. We ask because He wants us to love and depend upon Him.
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”
Proverbs 8:17 ESV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
The destination of God's way is not a place in which we have great wealth or an intellect that is impressive... neither of these things could exist without him having first given them to us. What God is leading us to is a character that is like His. He leads us towards patience, kindness, humility, love, charity, goodness, and the list of traits goes on, and we can read of them in straight forward scripture such as...
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV
Sometimes we learn these lessons in joy, while at other times in sorrow. Whether it be through love or hate, wealth or poverty, gain or loss, answered prayer or silence; whatever our life's circumstances... the place at the end of our journey is character, and not acquisitions or intellect.
I watched the movie titled "Fences"; it was about a damaged and imperfect man and his family, but in it the main character had a brother who was mentally disabled. This disabled brother thought his reason for living was to blow a trumpet which would tell St. Peter to open the gates of heaven. God made both men, but one went through life living it out of duty and obligation, while the other lived life in simple faith. The question to ponder is this... which man did God value most? Or perhaps it would be better phrased as... did God value one most? I won't ruin this movie for you by revealing more, but it is worth watching.
When God places us in positions of power it is about more than pleasing us... it is about teaching us lessons in His character. As for a man who is less fortunate and lives his life with some powerful person lording over him; someone who keeps him in poverty; his circumstances aren’t a punishment, no, they are lessons in humility and perseverance, or perhaps one of the many other character lessons God would like to teach him.
I really like a certain scripture and have taught on it before. Here it is...
“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 ESV
Many people read this scripture and only envision "mounting up with wings like eagles" but if you read the previous three verses they all deal with fainting. It isn't about soaring, it is about walking, and so is the journey God has us on. Sure we might fly from time to time, but the lesson always brings us back to walking without fainting. Perseverance... a character trait that God excels at, and one we must be constantly reminded of.
So God leads us, and he is leading us to become more like Himself. At journeys end that is the destination; Jesus tells us as much in an incredibly wonderful verse, listen to what He says…
“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”
John 14:20 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all you give me, and everything you take away. Thank you for the lessons I learn as I experience every facet of life. Father, help me to walk without fainting as I travel through my life of faith. Lead me in my steps and teach me to be more like you with each one, and at every turn. Let your Holy Spirit give me understanding and your Son Jesus Christ teach me to love. Lord, never let me mistake what is important to those in this world for what is ultimately important to you. Give me those things that I need to sustain me on this journey of faith as I carry my cross and follow Jesus. Help me as I continue walking until at last you have completed your work in me. Holy, Holy, Holy are you my God who desires me to be like you… loving, good, humble, full of grace, merciful, hopeful, and in possession of all the wonderful attributes that make you who you are. Then, and only then, when I have learned how to live caringly as I should and will not be tempted to abuse the mindful attributes you possess, give me wisdom and knowledge. I see these mindful things as dangerous to the journey of my soul and without my being like you in my heart then they will work against me in my mind. Holy are you who has taught me in Christ that Love is indeed the greatest of all things you are, and that I can ever be. I will praise you and worship you Holy Father as you lead me, and transform me from the fallen man that you drove from Eden into the righteous man you have redeemed and saved in Jesus Christ from my past life of sin and death. Lift me up Lord, and show me all that I can become in you, and all that awaits me at the end of the journey of faith and belief I am walking with you and Jesus. Show me your glory, joy, and peace as I enter into eternity in your presence. Let me hear all of heaven and earth praising you and every mouth proclaiming Hallelujah and Amen!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! AMEN!
“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”
1 Corinthians 13:8 ESV
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV
Rich Forbes