Straight Paths For Jesus

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Listen to this devotional:

My son is a power station boilermaker, a maintenance engineer. He is "a maintenance man" in every sense of the phrase. In every aspect of his life, he is a very practical and regular "Mr. Fix-It". He saves many people, including me, thousands of dollars with his skills. Thank You, Lord. Thank you, Wayne.

Perhaps you'll agree that as Christians, we also need to be practical as well as spiritual in our maintenance. We are three-part beings, with spirits, souls, and bodies needing constant maintenance. I have found that my relationship with our Lord needs as much maintenance as — if not more than — any other relationship in my life.

Luke 3:4b-6 – Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation. (NIV)

As we desire to heed our Master's call, especially as we enter the season of Lent, we'll want to give serious, constant attention to the maintenance directions in today's Scripture, so that we keep the paths into our hearts straight for Jesus our Lord.

Every valley of low thoughts, words, and deeds, perhaps doubting, even despairing, we'll want to give up; every self-seeking carnal delight we'll desire to forsake, so that our Jesus' glorious grace can fill each of those valleys. And each mountain and hill of pride, high-minded self-sufficiency, and boastful self-righteousness we'll want levelled, to make the highways of our hearts and lives straight for our King of kings.

We'll desire to sweep away all wavering and crookedness and to cease from any inconsistency and indecision with regard to our covenant relationship. We'll want Jesus to be the total Master of our hearts and souls, and His holiness to be our holiness. We'll long for all rough areas of our lives to be smoothed out, all stumbling blocks of sin to be repented of, and all thorns and stones of rebellion to be rooted out. As our loving, gracious Saviour comes to honour us with His presence and companionship, we'll yearn for the paths of our hearts to be made straight, pure, and humble, because our Lord of lords has respect for the humble and lowly. He fellowships freely with those of a contrite heart.

Psalm 51:17 – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (NIV)

Isaiah 66:2 – I myself created the whole universe! I am pleased with those who are humble and repentant, who fear me and obey me. (TEV)

Prayer: Thank You so much, gracious Lord Jesus, that in our quest for relationship maintenance, You, by Your Word and Holy Spirit, lead us into all truth and righteous directions, as You search our hearts for straight paths for You, our Lord and Master, to trod triumphantly together with us on our journey through this life, and eternally. Amen and Amen!

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About the author:

Rosemary Renninson
Westbury, Victoria, Australia

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