People may plan all kinds of things, but the LORD’s will is going to be done.
Proverbs 19: 21
This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Jeremiah 6: 16
Scripture: Matthew 5: 21-26
We generally make plans regarding what we want to do in our lives. Sometimes, though, we hit a crossroad and wonder which direction we should go. This devotion looks at Proverbs 19: 21 and Jeremiah 6: 16 to see what directions those verses give us in going through our daily walks.
Cliff Notes
- We use everything from goals to to-do lists to plan our lives.
- God may have other plans for us.
- At times, He leads us to a crossroad so that we must choose or reject the way He is leading us.
- God wants us to go back to the way He originally intended us to live.
- By choosing God’s way, we will find rest in our souls.
We Are Planners
I remember when Adam was little, it was his goal to be seven feet tall. I tried to convince him to pick a goal that he could work toward and have a impact on instead of something that just is what it is.
Generally, we like to have things all mapped out. We like to have something to work toward. Even if we don’t have it all written down, we usually have a pretty good idea where we are going and what we want out of life.
Most of us try not to leave too many things to chance. We have everything from goals to to-do lists to get us where we are going.
This is especially true of our careers. We are asked from a young age what we want to be when we grow up.
That gets us to start planning. We have to make sure we get the education needed. Sometimes, we have to relocate to go where the jobs are. Sometimes, it feels like all of the dominoes have to fall into place.
There are some people who also have personal goals. They want to be married by a certain age. Some parents have their kids either by a certain age or according the ages of the siblings.
God May Have Different Ideas
And here comes God. Some of our plans, He may give us a “yes.” Others, He might give us a flat-out “no.” He may have plans of His own.
Those are the easiest to see. We like definitive yes/no answers. It is the “wait” or the “I’ve got something better” answers that twist us up.
We have been so programmed for instant gratification that waiting is hard. We feel that we have to be — at a minimum — making progress toward the goal. If we don’t see forward movement, we fly off the handle.
To some of us, better isn’t always better. Have you ever had something on your Christmas list, but someone got you something ‘better”? In your mind, you are going, “Why did you get me this?”
We generally have our minds set on one thing — what we want. It is difficult for us to see how something else would be better. This is especially true if we don’t see God’s hand working in the situation.
At the Crossroads
We may not see God’s hand working — until we get to the crossroads. Hopefully, we then can see how He has brought us to where we are. Hopefully, we can see how He is offering us a choice.
You see, it is always about our choice. We can always do it God’s way, or we can head off on our own.
The Bible talks about the choices that we have. “… For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Mt. 7:13-14 ESV).
The wide gate on the crossroad to the left is where the goats are headed. We can imagine that it is bright and sunny with lots of trees and flowers. Everything about it is inviting.
The narrow gate on the crossroad to the right is where the sheep are headed. We can imagine nothing about it will be particularly inviting. It is rocky and steep. You are going to want to have to go there.
To read Will Being Kind to Others Get Us into Heaven?, click the button below.
Ask for the Ancient Path
The kicker is that the path God wants us to go on is not only narrow, but it is also ancient.
Hasn’t God heard of new and improved? We always want things that run faster, cost less, and have a slimmer, sleeker design.
But God wants us to go back to the olden days? In a way.
God wants us to go back to how the law was originally intended. God wants us to go back to the way He originally intended us to live. Look at Matthew 5: 21-22 as just one example of what I am talking about.
“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire” (Mt. 5: 21-22 RSV emphasis added).
Jesus was saying that is what you have been taught, but this is what God really intended. You hear these redirections all through His messages in the gospels.
It wasn’t necessarily that it was the old way instead of the new. Jesus’ point was it was the right way. It was the way that God intended.
Rest for Our Souls
There is a reason for choosing the narrow way. When we walk on God’s path, we find rest for our souls. This is because “… Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light’” (Mt. 11: 28-30 NLT).
This is not necessarily talking about physical rest, mind you. It is talking about rest for our souls — contentment when we live our lives for God.
What Does This Mean?
In a way, it seems like polar opposites, though, doesn’t it? Narrow unadorned gate. Hard life guaranteed.
But Jesus offers peace and rest. A light pack to carry on that narrow road.
How can it be both?
I guess you have to put it into perspective. Jesus’ way is more fulfilling, more rewarding. It leads to eternity in paradise. What we are committed to makes us notice the weight of the load less.
But as always, we have to keep choosing to follow Jesus. We have to daily choose God. What God wants is for us to put our trust in Him daily. He doesn’t want us to rely on our plans and efforts to accomplish those plans.
To read What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?, click the button below.
How Do We Apply This?
How do we choose God?
Well, first, He chose us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3: 16 KJV). We didn’t do anything to earn this favor. He chose us because He wanted the relationship with us.
We do, however, have to choose God. Just as Joshua gave the Israelites the choice, so, too, must we “… choose this day whom [we] will serve …” (Josh. 24: 15 ESV). We make the choice to switch sides from being God’s enemy to God’s child.
We choose God by admitting we are sinners, believing Jesus’ death was God’s gift to make salvation available to us, and confessing that God is now our Lord of lords and King of kings. We choose to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as He convicts us and shows us of our need for the Savior.
Then it comes full circle. “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Prov. 16: 3 NIV). Our plans will be blessed because they are God’s plans for our lives.
Gracious, merciful God. You bestow rich blessings on us that we do not deserve. You do not punish us for our transgressions to the extent we deserve. Help us to plan our paths to live in Your Will. Guide us when we reach the crossroads so that we stay within Your favor. Lead us home to be with You. Amen.
If you have not admitted that your relationship is not right with God,
have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior,
and have not confessed your sins,
please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
What do you think? Think about the last time that you stood at a crossroads in your life. Did you choose God? Would you make that same decision today? Even if you chose not to follow God in that instance, how did God use it to grow you? Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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This fits right along with my understanding with wisdom in Proverbs. God invites us to walk along beside Him as our God, participating in what He is already doing.
Isn’t it wonderful, Rachel, that the Sovereign God has included us in His plans and His work? It shows how much He truly loves us. Have a good day.