“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
We have to seek out God’s way always.
Especially at any crossroads where we need wisdom to make the right choices. We don’t want to be in perpetual transience and delivering. We want enabling, to choose God’s will.
There is rest and peace in the right choice that our spirit recognises and is rewarded in however great the striving has been to get to that place.
We are tied to family and also to our tribe of like minded. The Holy Spirit nudges and identifies those with whom our destiny is linked. Human friendships, relationships, connections produce right alignments leading us to right assignments.
There was an alignment of people and a spiritual connection sensed when pregnant Mary visited pregnant Elizabeth.
The Holy Spirit linked a recognition in the womb and John the Baptist (to be) leapt with recognition of Jesus even before He was born.
“ And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,”
It is sometimes our experience to sense more in a connection we make than a chance meeting.
A sense sometimes that a friendship or relationship is meant to be even though we have no knowledge at that point of why.
What is birthed in us by the Holy Spirit must not be aborted or killed. The life it gives may have effect and significance in our lives and purpose, or in our family generations.
We are not just aimless, purposeless wanderers. We are seekers, discoverers and those willing to put down roots in tribes bonded in love however diverse we are.
Variety and diversity is part of God’s plan but equally is unity and solidarity.
God brings people together and their lives shift dramatically and it can be into alignment with Jesus. The story of the travelling Ethiopian where Philip is prompted to travel a while and explains the scripture meaning with him, a point in case.
“And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?””
On the one side we have to hear and obey God’s voice and on the other we can hear God speak into our lives through what another says to us. Discerning and not being deceived is also important.
“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
God has divine appointments and connections ready for us to step into in faith and reposition ourselves for His blessings.
In scripture it even says that Ishmael was blessed when there was such a delay in Isaac being born that they had taken things into their own control to do something God did not sanction.
“As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.”
Sometimes God will bless actions by His grace albeit He will not inhabit them. We need more of God and less of the world. We need to be with others who want likewise and navigate to a destiny in Godly ways.
Not my will but Your’s be done.
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
We have to evaluate what is laid out before us and choose wisely. We count the cost when we lack wisdom and pay the consequences. We can sow generously and reap healthily from a kingdom of abundance.
We are not the same. Within any group there can be some He is commanding to sit while others to stand.
We have responsibility for ourselves even if that in the natural makes us, on occasions, seem to be the only fish travelling in an opposite direction to those who surround us.
We model dependence on God and an assurance and confidence that He knows. He is a faithful shepherd we can trust to walk with. He reaches out His hand inviting us to rise and go with Him.
The illustration shows the Spiritual crossroad choice to be taken to remain on the narrow purpose filled path. Light emanating to push back the darkness.
Six Scriptures that come to mind:
“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’’ Jeremiah 6:16 ESV
“In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,”. Luke 1:39, 41 ESV
“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV
“And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” Acts 8:29-30 ESV
“As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.” Genesis 17:20 ESV
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”1 John 2:16 ESV
The song Narrow Road. Josh Baldwin
Lessisgreater 