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Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "There Is A Happy Land"1 (Lyrics) |
Don't get me wrong — I loved my old car. Though it was almost ten years old, it was easy to drive and was still in great shape. My family, however, strongly encouraged me to consider getting a newer car with better safety features. Eventually, we found just the right car to help me keep driving more safely for some time to come. This car-buying process made me think of many parallels in our walk of faith.
- The Benefit: A car transports us quickly and efficiently where we need to go. Likewise, when a person chooses to follow Christ, there are many attractive benefits: heaven as a new destination, and a wonderful relationship with the God of the universe — a God of love!
- The Decision: I needed to carefully research, think, and pray about purchasing my car, because it was expensive. An unbeliever must also give much careful thought to his decision before entering into a life of faith, because there is a cost to discipleship. "Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?" (Luke 14:27-28 NIV)
- The Manual: Full knowledge of a car's operation and everything that the car has to offer will be shortchanged if the manual is ignored. Our Master Manual for living the Christian life — the Bible — is equally essential to learning how we are to navigate our world. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11 NIV)
- The Guides: Our mechanic can help us to keep our vehicle running smoothly. Pastors and teachers can help us to learn more about Scripture as we grow in our Christian life. "Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15 NIV)
- Personal Experience: Simply driving a car day after day helps us to become familiar and comfortable with its operation. A daily life of fervent prayer and consistent communion with God enables us to live a life of obedient faith. "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:14 NIV)
- Mutual Support: Car owners can trade valuable tips that they have learned. Fellow believers can be of much mutual help and support as they pray together and share what God is teaching them. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17 NIV)
There is far more to driving a new car than simply turning on the engine and driving down the road. The Christian life is much more than accepting Christ as Saviour and then simply cruising along until we reach heaven. The Christian life is a lifelong journey, but the time and effort spent in living it well is so worthwhile.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank You for the Bible and all the other resources that You have given us to live the Christian life wisely. May we diligently seek to learn and grow as we continue on our journey. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Thanks for the good word, Gail.
Thanks, Gail. I’ll remember this as I drive!
Amen Gail, good pointers for sure.
Blessings.
Thank you, Gail, for this encouraging devotional reminder. Keep on driving…safely! Blessings,
I will share this with my mechanic friend. Thank you for writing. Safe in your new car. Safe in Jesus.
Dear Gail,
Thank you for your devotional and prayer.
Keep writing.
Good morning Gail.
Thank you. This is a very good devotional, nice way to start the morning.
Blessings.
Dear Gail,
I thought I was reading a devotional written by a man until I got to your name!
No insult, but you do express automatics as men usually do. (No insult. I have had three brothers.)
Thank you for the fine devotional with well-drawn comparisons.
God bless you. Keep writing.
Hi Gail,
Many thanks for your great devotional this morning! What an amazing way to describe the Christian Life.
I volunteer as a chaplain at our local correctional centre in Canada and I would like to share your article with
some of the men and women that I visit.
May God continue to bless you,
Hello Gail,
Thank you for writing this very good devotional. You have done a great analogy of facts of operation of a vehicle and details that must be observed and how those same things must be followed in our Christian life. The Bible is a precious guide to our daily living and our Lord deserves our everlasting gratitude.
Blessings to you and enjoy a special day.
(B.C.)
Gail, I quickly connected to this devotional. Not too long ago I had to make the same decision over my car. I owned it outright and to get a new one I would have to look at car payments again. In much the same way I have been sick for a while and the prospect of returning to the choir became daunting the longer I was away. However, I took a deep breath and returned. The music was lovely, and I enjoyed the fellowship.
Thank you for writing.
This is great, Gail. We just bought a new car. My husband is over 80 and I thought it would be better to get a new one now than to wait and perhaps find that he couldn’t make the switch as easily. Your ‘metaphor’ is just what I need. I did no research or forethought. I did no calculations. I simply drive it and approved because it has several features that make life safer and easier. I have not read the manual. My great weakness is being too quick to jump to conclusions – so your reflection is definitely a bless to me. Thank you.
O how timely this well-researched and joyful devotional is in your life today, my dear friend! I love the thoughtful way you present a brand-new thesis. Who would’ve thought a meditation on a New Car would bring all this truth to bear on our lives? And all the aspects of your brother’s life, now finished and with God, all these things true for him, looking back with others as you celebrate his life! A joyous occasion, even through tears. Much love to you today, Gail. How glad I am we are meeting together again through such understandings and writings.
Thanks for sharing Gail.
Your analogy of buying a car to our faith journey struck a chord with me.
After years of praying and interest in an electric vehicle – primarily in care of the environment – my wife and I took the leap last October.
God has continued to bless this decision which we made with as much research (counting the cost) as we knew how.
We were led to an all-electric car which we love. More benefits were revealed even after we leased than we imagined.
We feel blessed all around and that blessings keep coming.