Over the last week, I spent most of my time at home. And yet, I feel like I am on a long distance trip. The word trip carries two distinct yet complimentary definitions. 1. Trip (noun) - a journey with a purpose. 2. Trip (verb) - to make one misstep or stumble.
My week was spent evaluating potential ministry opportunities. That in itself is a trip (noun) as I research: a) Where are the churches or ministries located? b) What is their ministry like? c) How do my gifts and experience line up with their needs? You could say I am engaged in a trip that the best I can hope for is to travel far enough to get outside myself…
That’s when it hit me…the true trip here…is not the job hunt…but in my obedience! To allow the full blessing of the trip, I must be willing to place my trust in…to be obedient to…God, who has plans for me of hope and a future (Jer.29:11). This trip is about the growing and maturing of my relationship with my Heavenly Father who loves me and longs for me to place all my delight in him and to be willing to allow him to give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:3-6).
I also recognize that there is another trip involved here. And that is the trip (verb) that works hard to keep me from an obedience that reflects an intimate and purposeful relationship with God. Satan works hard to cause me to stumble and the world, by its very nature, is disorganized and full of missteps. However, my greatest trip (verb)…is ME when I pledge my obedience to myself (Rom.7:22-23).
This week is prime time to deepen my focus on the obedience to my relationship with God…which is the trip of an eternal journey of love with God!
Obedience verse for the week:
“But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:5-6
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