The way to life – to God! – has been given to us in Jesus. The empty cross is a sign of victory over death and sin and brokenness. We are saved and guided to the way of Life by grace through faith in Jesus. We are not to look for shortcuts to God. There sure are plenty of empty promises floating around: quick answers, easygoing formulas for success and happiness. But those are not directing us to the way to God. Those are sending us to endless and lifeless pursuits of happiness. The way to life – to God!- goes via cross.

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention. (Matthew 7: 13-14, MSG)

The way to Life is not an easy path necessarily. It requires our total attention. The wonderful paradox is that when we have surrendered our life to God, completely embraced Christ and what he is doing in the world, we have more life than we ever imagined possible. We don’t need to wait until the end of the world to live in the Kingdom of God. In the Holy Spirit we already have God living in us! And that changes everything. Suddenly we want to lift high the cross, the sign of life, the sign of real freedom.

I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple —in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on. Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out. (1 Cor. 7: 29-31, MSG)

When Christ has taken over our hearts we are to pass on the joy of salvation. We are called to live a life of love. There is no time to waste. We are to live simply, not to complicate our lives unnecessarily. I know it’s easier said than done. But that’s the goal. When we ask God to help us, the Holy Spirit will empower us to walk steadily on the way of Life.

The biggest battle is to want to give up some earthly things to be able to fully embrace the way of Christ. The first step is to pray that God will give us a strong desire to live simply and then show us what does it mean in our life. The second step is to pray that God will enable us to live according to his will. We are not left alone to do this. And we are not to do it alone, either. When the Holy Spirit lives in us the changes just happen. That is what living in grace means. It’s not us but God working in us and through us. Our duty is to keep on praying, keep on surrendering, keep on allowing God’s work in us.

There is no time to waste. Let’s keep it simple. Let’s focus on God. Let’s stay steady on the way of Life!

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for the gift of salvation!
Give us a strong desire to live simply
yet strongly for your glory.
Fill us with your Spirit.
Show us thy vision for our lives and
enable us to live according to your will.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What’s the hard part of living on the way of Life for you?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you give your total attention to the way to God!

Photo courtesy of Marian Trinidad