6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from Whom all things came and for Whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all things came and through Whom we live. (I Corinthians 8:6)
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. (I Timothy 5-6)
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“Just outside the city, turn east on Wandering Road. Continue east for ten miles. At the intersection, Wandering Road becomes a gravel road. Head south until you eventually reach a dead end and a gated entry. The gate will be wide open, for many pass through it. Continue down the widened, winding road ahead. Follow the tread marks of all those who have gone before –until you arrive. See you there!”
The path down Wandering Road is well-traveled, leading many lost souls astray.
Our tendency as humans is to wander, lose our way, follow the path many take, and think we can make it safely on our own–when, in fact, we have no idea where we are when we are not being led by the ONE guide we need to direct us on the right pathway.
God understands us. We need simple, specific directions. He gives us ONE. There is just ONE way to our Father’s house. Jesus declared that He is that way. We do not need landmarks or directives to turn here or there, south or east. We just need Jesus.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
We need the ONE who will help us enter through the gate to our eternal home with God.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. (John 10: 9-11)
The Good Shepherd will guide us to the restful pasture that He has prepared for us. His direction leads us to life—to the fullest. There is no other way, no other path, no other entry. Only ONE.
1 The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
3 He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
(Psalm 23:1-4)
With Jesus, we are never alone on this journey of life. We know the Good Shepherd is always there watching over us, and if we stray, He will help us return home. When He opens that gate or door of opportunity, we must recognize that we are lost and need His guidance.
Many will rejoice over the one who was lost but is now found.
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:3-7)
Are we yet roaming on Wandering Road?
Do we still fumble with east and south directions, hoping an open gate will appear so we can proceed down a winding, well-traveled road—where, surely, many others have arrived safely? Time is on our side, we rationalize, as we continue to wander, straying farther away from the ONE, true way.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
The ONE path to follow is behind the footprints of Jesus, showing us the way. When we become closer to the Lord and strive to be more like Him, we try to walk more in His footprints, not just as a follower behind. That path is not an easy one, but it is the one we must take. Bearing our own cross, the imprints of our burden are evident in our footprints, much smaller and with less depth than His, on a path made easier to walk because of Him.
We must daily strive to move forward, keeping in step on the path with Jesus.
Time is not on our side. . .
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain”; 14 whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that.” (James 4:13-15
Day-by-day,
Step-by-step,
Following Him
On the ONE path
To the ONE Father
Through the ONE Savior.
(Sharon G. Tate blog 03/06/22) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word
Meditations on God's Word 