The Right Way: Where He Leads — Follow

When believers choose to stray from God’s “ancient paths” of righteousness, we will soon discover loss of peace and rest for our weary souls. Not to mention purpose, joy, and the comfort and leading of the “Hound of Heaven”, Jesus Christ. God’s path is the “good way”, as Scripture attests to. Believers will soon determine God’s way for our lives is always best - even though oftentimes extraordinarily difficult. And it reaps the greatest harvest of Christlikeness to include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – against such things there is no law, as Scripture tells us.

God uses our afflictions to cleanse His people and build them up – saints shine and thrive most to the world under afflictions as their reactions are often so other worldly in their nature. Our darkest days often telling the story of God’s most tender and greatest grace. He always bestows grace sufficient to meet the needs of His heirs of mercy. Remember as well, that loss of time is no small part of the enemy’s victory. When we love to piddle away our time in idle nonsense it gets us nowhere fast and keeps us from God’s best as well as keeping us from having kingdom impact. We have one life and it behooves us to make it count eternally. How we live matters. Scripture attests to the fact that it is an unspeakable comfort to look back on a life well lived. Daniel writes in Daniel 12:2-3 (NIV): “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”
                               
Examine the Lord Jesus’ life. His Light shined so brightly in all the experiences He walked through – His actions not blending with the world. And experienced saints discover they too can walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and are enabled to face their crosses as other’s do the world’s crowns. We do well to measure affliction by the outcome and not by the pain. He makes beauty out of our ashes, the oil of gladness out of our mourning’s and a garment of praise out of our spirits of despair – turning all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. Is this easy? No. Is it worth it? Yes. The life of sinfulness and wickedness leads to misery. The life with Jesus leads to joy and peace. Remember, there is purpose in everything He allows in the lives of His heirs of mercy – even if we cannot understand it. Remember as well, Scripture tells us there is no peace for the wicked. Do not fear the way of the cross. Hosea 14:9 (NIV) states: “Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”