Genesis 46:1-47:31; Matthew 15:1-28; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 4:14-19
“’I am God, the God of your father,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes.’”
“Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.
…The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.”
God Himself recognized, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). I waste a lot of time – and go down a lot of rabbit trails – trying to prove Him wrong. No matter how independent we claim to be, the vast majority of us are inescapably affected by those we follow. Even the very entrepreneurial usually share a vision with one who has gone before. True lone rangers are a very rare breed. Most of us need a guide.
For years, I followed in my brother’s footsteps. Without doubt, he accomplished more with old fashioned “want to” than I ever dreamed of attempting. He was, and is, a terrific example in many ways. He is not me, however, and his gifts are not mine. Following his example ultimately proved futile and frustrating. Strangely, the longer I did so, the harder it was to finally break away. When the break came, then, the pendulum swung too far the other way.
Once chosen, independence came surprisingly, dangerously, easily. The cold truth is it is sometimes simpler not to care about others. It is never the better choice. God can do little with a hardening heart turned from Him. It’s not necessarily even about evil; it’s about being separated – from others (giving up the power and gifts of the Body of Christ); from ourselves (in that we are given unique gifts which only play out in relationships) and from the very Source of Life. No wonder burnout is such an issue….
Finally, I came home to follow the One who has known me best all my life. Together, we charted a new course. The road has not always been smooth, but at least, I know now when I’m off it, and I am learning that Christ really is the way. This is a world of lost souls. It is not a world without hope. We just need to be more intentional and selective about who we follow, and less driven to fly solo.
1 comment:
Now we are getting to the Jesus I can identify with! "You hypocrites!"
"Are you still so dull?"
Calling people "dogs".
This was the Jesus that was not afraid to go against the norm and make some waves. This was a Jesus that did not mince words. This was a Jesus who was not the sheep carrying metrosexual seen in so many paintings, but a man's man who could say to some salty fishermen "Follow me" and they immediately did so. Sometimes I wish we could here more of this kind of "blunt" talk from today's pulpits. Not fire and brimstone necessarily, but Truth. Sometimes Truth can be hard to hear, as I am sure it was for the Pharisees back then. Remember they were the religious leaders of the time, not the "bad guys" we now know them to be. Jesus was totally changing what the accepted practice was, and it eventually cost Him his life. Who of us would stand up for the Truth to that extent?
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