Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Apr. 9, 2012

“Stick to the Path” “Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.” – Proverbs 4:26

We are still in the process of knowing how to “guard our hearts.” We have discussed numerous items or issues to avoid or guard against: complacency, apathy, slothfulness, fatigue, mediocrity, busyness, and blame. Yesterday, we looked at a way where we can be the “aggressor” as it were—to take charge of our relationship rather than being a casual or even passive observer. Here, Solomon tells us to “stick to the path that is marked.”
Jesus reminds us, “…small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:14) The word that Jesus uses for “life” in this verse is the same word He uses for life in John 10:10; “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” It is the word, zoe, and is the root word used for “zoology.” Zoe describes both our temporal existence as well as our eternal. In this regard it refers to life given to us as humans—the life that separates us from all other life on this earth.
We can all testify to the fact that “life is hard.” Nothing new there. I think we can all agree that the Christian life is not all that much easier—and staying on “the straight and narrow” is a tough balancing act to say the least.
One of my parent’s best friends was an experienced outdoorsman and hunter. He knew his way around a forest and could track deer and turkey with the best of them. He told me of a time when he and a friend had been bow hunting—it was late October and the weather was warm. They decided to leave their jackets at camp and had walked some five miles. I remember him telling me that he had been doing this for many years and if experience had taught him anything it was not to get caught unaware in case the weather were to change. Sure enough, a sudden cold-front came in and they lost their bearings. It became darker earlier and without a flashlight they were forced to “make camp” at the best spot they could find. They were able to find enough dry kindling to make a fire but without jackets or warm gear they spent a very cold and miserable night. Had it been a couple of degrees colder, they may not have made it through the night! A reminder…missing the path can happen to the best of them!
Staying on the path is remaining disciplined in our relationship with Christ—staying true to what He wants for us. The following comes from an article from pastor and author Leith Anderson from Moody magazine in 2004:
“My wife and I grew up together and dated through high school and college. We’ve been married for most of our lives, but we’ve never drafted a list of rules for our lives together. Don’t misunderstand, we are both committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and to the Holy Spirit as our guide. We hold God’s moral law in highest value—truth, morality, honesty, honoring of parents, and preserving life.
When we first married, we could not have anticipated all that would be included in “better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health.” There is no way that any set of rules or any book on marriage could have told us what to do. We’ve based our decision on a relationship of commitment, love, and growing to know each other better every day.
That’s the way the Christian life is to be lived—by relationship, not rules. The Christian’s relationship with God is based on love and commitment, holding God’s moral law in highest regard but depending on the grace of God to live out His morality in everyday circumstances. Every relationship is a bit different—everyone’s road may not look the same—but every relationship learns and grows through experience. Life by and in the Spirit, not by the rules.”,br /> The “weather” can change at any time. Stay on the path marked out for us by the One who is leading us.
Pastor J. T. Carnell