Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Easy Path is Almost Never the Right One

This 'revelation' hit me hard tonight while riding in a mototaxi into town and I had no idea why at first. Fortunately, I was able to seriously think about it over dinner alone (yes, I know that's slightly pathetic... haha). As I began analyzing the statement, I realized that it was brought into my consciousness by the Holy Spirit. Because to be honest, I have not been trying to take anything BUT the easy path lately, and the HS convicted me strongly about it tonight. I don't know why tonight, but what I do know is that I can start figuring out how I can change my life to do more than just glide through each day. Let's take an honest look at ourselves (and I'll be the first to admit that I do this)... how many of us just try to get though each day with the least effort possible? It's amazing the number of posts I see on Facebook every single day that just beg for the weekend to get here already; why is that? Our path was never meant to be an easy one... In fact, ours should be the hardest path there is. Unfortunately - myself at the front of the line - we've lost sight of that, and we expect everything to be hunky-dorey, easy-breezy. God has given us this day - today! - to make something of it! Not to just be wishing that it was the weekend so we can 'officially' slack off. We need to be proclaiming God's glory with every word, act, and thought every day. We are called to be authentic with each other, and even love our enemies. Now, those two things are most definitely NOT the easy path! But we must do them, brothers and sisters, for they are what sets us apart from the world. They are what call the lost to us, and makes them realize that we are different from them, and then they desire to have what we have. Instead, most of the time, the lost see us no differently from them because we too try to slip into the Easy path, and we get stuck in 'survival mode.' The Lord gave us strength enough for each day, and He renews that strength every day, but He gave it to us to fulfill His Will for us, not to beg the weekend to get here faster.
For me, the Right path would be to spend time in God's Word every day, instead of watching 'Heroes' and 'Bones'; for me, the Right path would be to be a better steward of my time, focusing every action for His glory, instead of mindlessly stalking my friends on Facebook; for me, the Right path would be to become a better steward of God's money He gave me, instead of carelessly spending what I have so that I become reliant on my parents to help me out each month; for me, the Right path would be to develop deeper relationships with the people next door and back home, instead of closing myself off emotionally to make it easier for me. I can't do this alone; I would fail within the first 10 minutes! But with Him, and the strength He provides, I stand a chance to walk the Right path. How would the Right path look for you?? It's not going to be easy, and we may not always 'win' each day.... but it's going to be Right.

2 comments:

Karen Johnson said...

Wow. That was a great blog, Jeff. It really made me think of things as well. You always do a great job and refocusing me!! We love you and miss you!!!

David Reynolds said...

Wow is right. I thought we ( WE being the older yet wiser)were supposed to be teaching the kids. My brother amazes me with each of his blogs. Thanks Jeff for your writings.

We do love you,
David Reynolds