Daily devotional, Jan 6, 2024 Lost in space
"This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’" Jeremiah 6:16
Have you ever lost your child in a public place, or have you ever been lost as a child? It is one of the most terrifying things that can happen to any parent, to realise that the kid they had with them in the mall has wandered around and could potentially be in danger.
In our Christian walk, we might in times get lost too. But we should take heart that if we are careful to live out God’s plans in our lives, we are exactly where He wants us to be. Unlike the missing child who is wondering where his parent is, Christians who live out their faith are secure in the thought that their Heavenly Father is up there loving, protecting, providing, and guiding them with discipline.
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receivethe spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God"
Romans 8:14-16
When we are trying to live a life pleasing to the Lord, we are at peace in the thought that our existence is filled with a godly purpose. That we are in a place and season carefully thought of and planned by the Lord.
"The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance." Psalm 16:6
We rest secure that even if we will face difficult challenges, we have a God that will never let go of his hold on us. That He goes before us, and He will never let the enemy snatch us out of His hands.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-13
But if we wander around and boldly defy His commands by giving in to the allures of power, possessions and pleasure that the world offers, then we can be sure that we will suffer the same fate as the first generation of Israelites in the wilderness. Like them, we too will perish, and can never get to attain our inheritance — which in our case a life in eternity with the Lord.
“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels." Psalm 81:11-12
So how do we walk with the Lord and ensure that we will not get lost? First, we should walk closely with Him.
When we closely follow the head of a convoy, we are not bound to lose our way. It is the same thing with our Christian walk. When we walk closely with Jesus, we get to develop and nurture a loving relationship with Him. We get to be receptive to His commands, His will for our lives, and enjoy the peace of living in His presence. Practically speaking, we can do this by:
1. Prioritizing prayer and quiet time with the Lord, EVERY SINGLE DAY.
2. Intentionally setting time to read the bible and try to understand and reflect on the readings. Apart from reading a section or chapter of the Holy Book, you can read credible bible commentaries of known Biblical Scholars so you could understand more and apply the lessons of the scripture you have just read.
3. Joining bible study groups, and REGULARLY attending the meetings. There is no use of being a member, when you only attend when it is convenient for you.
4. Worshipping the Lord with fellow believers every Sunday.
5. Try your best to start spreading the Gospel with what resources (time, talent, treasure) you have. 6. Living out your faith. Be a follower of Jesus who imitates how Jesus acts and thinks.
When you realise that you are indeed where God wants you to be, bloom where you are planted. You are not on Earth to just fulfill your worldly goals and pursuits. You are here for a mission, which is to preach the Gospel and bring more souls to Christ.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Matthew 28:19-20, Ephesians 1:11 and Hebrews 3:7-12 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Can you say that you are ‘lost’ right now when it comes to knowing your purpose in life? or have you found your purpose according to what God wants you to do?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father I praise and thank you for seeking me out, and having good plans for my life. Give me the confidence to fully surrender all my thoughts, self-pursuits, as well as plans to you so that I could live a life that honors you. Amen.