The Story of Jesus
Be completely honest. When your spouse or any other member of your family is driving, do you clinch your fists and flinch at every intersection, when they pass a car, follow too closely, or when they enter the entrance or exit ramp of a major highway? Do you try to “help” them drive by offering impulsive, immediate “suggestions” for bettering their skills at driving. Why do we do this? We humans, by nature, must be in control! No matter how well the person behind the wheel is driving, we flinch and clinch mainly because we are not in control and must rely on someone else to get us from point A to point B. Wow. Guilty.
Jesus has words similar to his disciples…”You have to let me lead”…”You are not in the driver’s seat; I AM”. He is the great I AM and knows the what, why, where, when and how in every situation! Do we really want to be in the driver’s seat? Can we lay down our control and let Him lead in our lives? It’s tough, goes against our human will, but worth it. Jesus tells us it’s a requirement to save our souls! Read on…
Matthew 16, Msg
21-22 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”
23 But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”
24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Question for us today: WHAT could we be trading our souls for just so we can stay in control of our lives? Go deep. Come back to this thought throughout the day. Let’s watch ourselves over the next few days to see WHO is in control? Maybe, just maybe we need to unclinch our fists, stop telling Jesus how to drive, lay down our human control and let Him lead. Mm.
Jesus was, again, the supreme example of laying down HIS life for the will of the Father in heaven to complete the mission that Jesus was sent to earth to accomplish…saving us! God was in control of the situation. Jesus was preparing His disciples that the road ahead was not going to be what they expected and they must let Him do the will of the Father in Heaven, no matter what!
27-28 “Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.” –Jesus
Dear Heavenly Father, You drive! We confess and repent of our need to be in control of our lives. We lay it all down. We set aside our wants and ambitions. Lead us to higher ground thinking and behaving. Help us to lay down the need to be in control, relax and let You lead, no matter where You might take us. Let’s go for a drive! In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 