One day, Breanne and I were running errands for the ministry when we saw this woman walking down the side of the road.
On the right side of the road was a nice, smooth sidewalk. On the left side of the road, it was a deep ditch, with high grass and rocky places. The woman was walking on the left side of the road, struggling with every step to stay out of the ditch. Breanne and I were watching her struggle to keep her footing.
“Why is she taking the hard way?” Breanne asked.
Of course, immediately I began to think of what she was saying in the spiritual sense. Why in the world do so many people take the hard way?
Sometimes it seems that many Christians choose to take a hard path, determined to do things their own way, instead of following the way of the Lord. While it may not always be easy to follow Christ, it is simple. I love what He says in Matthew 11.
Matthew 11:28-30 says, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
One translation says;
Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.
Religion is hard. However, the way of Jesus is not hard. As the scripture says, we must simply join our life to Him, choosing to learn HIS ways. In doing so we will find it is simple and He is easy to please. He is not sitting around waiting on us to mess up. No! He wants more than anything to manifest all His promises in our life – the problem is He has done all He is ever going to do – the rest is up to us.
We must join our life with His. We must learn His way and follow them – then and only then will we find the refreshment for our souls that He promises. Then and only then will we find rest in Him.
We do not have to take the hard path.
God has already gone before us and made our path straight and easy. In the Amplified Bible, Hebrews 12:13 says God cuts through and makes firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for our feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction].
I love that! Happy paths that go in the right direction. That is God’s plan for us!
Jeremiah 6:16 is one of my most favorite verses. It says, Thus says the Lord, Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.
This old path is walking with Jesus, doing things His way. It is walking in His Word daily. This path is easy and light. This path has rest for our soul.
My friend don’t take the hard path. Instead, align your life with Jesus’ and begin to take the easy way – His Way.
