Not the map we wanted

October 6, 2006

Bonus: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6

As a young man, I attended high school at an Army military school, where we learned basic infantry skills. One of these - land navigation - was very foreign to me then, as the maps had no roads, but were intended to take us cross country, from one specific spot to another, even at night. At first, the exercise was quite intimidating, but once I learned to read the map and follow its guidance - although not as quickly apparent as I would have preferred - it was quite reliable. I learned that once I knew how to understand them, I could absolutely rely on those maps for direction. And I noticed that as I exercised the skills, there was a certain pleasure in using the map and compass to cross land with no markers. It was exciting!

As Christians, we are not given the maps that we really wish we had sometimes. However, like the land navigation courses I took in high school, if we learn to see the markers God provides and understand His direction, we can move in His Kingdom with confidence. The problem, sometimes, though, is with our own ability to succeed without looking for God’s markers. When we seem to be navigating without God’s help, we get ourselves to the place where we’re quite lost in life. That’s the time we need God’s help. Unfortunately, it’s not always the time we seek it. Instead of admitting our weakness to God or our brethren, we try harder. In land navigation, these are the guys who are lost, but are walking faster. The bad news is that they’re lost, but the good news is they’re making great time!

Meanwhile, God’s working to bring us to the place where we collapse under the weight of our insufficiency and fall into the Spirit’s arms. Although He intends us to bring all our resources to bear on His work, instead of relying on our own internal compass, He wants us to use His - depending entirely on His power and guidance, not ours. If we listen, we’re getting smarter - learning to read His map - a complete dependency on Him.

And if we haven’t learned this yet, don’t feel too badly. Even the disciples, who heard our Lord speak face-to-face, weren’t sharp enough to navigate for themselves at first. They needed help to read His map. “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high,” said our Lord - instructing them to wait until the Holy Ghost empowered them on Pentecost (Acts 2) before attempting the Kingdom’s work. He is our teacher, counselor and even our map - with His help, we’re energized, instructed, and guided while navigating the land the Lord has given us to cross. And applying those skills is REALLY exciting!

For your meditation: how does Proverbs 3:5-6 relate to our self sufficiency, vs. depending on God? And where are we still trying to bluff our way through the course, like the guys who were lost, but walking faster? And, if we really are the ones walking faster, have we confessed this to our Father and asked the Holy Ghost to teach us to read God’s map?

All love in the Beloved,

Chip+

Posted by Father Chip | Filed Under Devotionals