The High Road?

Do you ever find yourself basing your determination of God’s will for your life on a feeling of peace? Or on what is easy? Or on what feels comfortable? Of course you do! Why wouldn’t we expect that when life is comfortable, that has to be God’s will for our life right then! I know that when I can pay the bills, and when I have a comfortable home, and when I am loved I most definitely feel like I am right where God wants me to be. And who knows? I may very well be!

Here’s the question, though: Moses was adopted into Pharaoh’s family. He was highly educated. He was rich. He had nice things and a nice home. He had people who loved him. But that wasn’t God’s will, was it? God’s plan for Moses’ life was for him to leave everything that was comfortable and every luxury that he had been given. He was to become an enemy to the very people he called family, lead a people who questioned him, and spend decades in a dry desert. And at the end… he still wouldn’t get to see the Promised Land.

How do we know if God wants us to rest in the blessings of life? I don’t know! I know that God does bless us. But I also know that the blessings aren’t always where He wants us to rest. So… I guess I’ll spend more time on my knees and in His Word. And I will DEFINITELY keep my eyes open for burning bushes!

The Cost of Following Jesus

What do we do with the portions of the gospel where Jesus tells His followers that they should hate their family?  Or that they should follow Him instead of burying their father?  Or that even saying farewell to family is too much to ask?  We see throughout the Bible that family is important!  We see commands to honor our parents, love our wives, respect our husbands.  So what, then, do we do with direct quotes from Jesus that tell us to leave them behind and follow Him?

Burying a parent was a big deal back then (as it is even now).  But in those times it could be a year-long process, as Jewish tradition required certain rituals.  But Jesus says that the Kingdom takes priority.  He is not saying that right here, right now, we cannot care for our family obligations.  We are commanded to take care of family obligations!  But when we do, it MUST be out of obedience to Jesus, and not instead of obedience.  Jesus must always be our highest priority!  We were not put here to excel at being wife, mom, daughter, etc.  We are here and chosen and called for one reason and one reason only… to glorify God!  Love and respect our husbands?  Yes!  Be a good mom to our kids?  Absolutely!  But do these things out of obedience to your God.  Do them with the intent of letting them see you place God first, so they will do the same.  Our only earthly obligations are to be done IN obedience, not INSTEAD of.