Daily devotional, April 5, 2024 The field trip

"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." 
1 John 2:3-6

I first encountered the term “buddy system” during our elementary field trip many years ago. There I learned that we will be required to walk with a classmate so that we can be safe and remain with the whole group at all times.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to walk with Him. Walk in His ways, and follow the path He takes. (“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” — 1 John 2:6) He never promised that His route is easy, but He promises to help us out and not let go of us the rest of the way:

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his lifewill lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 16:24-25

One of the powerful illustrations we could imagine in our walk with Jesus, is being yoked with Him. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was quoted inviting the weary to come to Him and walk with Him:

"Come to me, all 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.”
Matthew 11:28-30

Being born in the Philippines, I usually just see in local textbooks pictures of a yoke on top of a lone beast of burden. Biblical scholars however say that the yoke Jesus was talking about in the gospel is a yoke for two. A yoke that pulls two oxen so both of them could plough the field. And as I envisioned myself being in the same yoke of Jesus, I felt relieved because I am not just carrying my burdens with someone else, I too am sure to not get lost because the one I am yoked with, is The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE.

One of the most famous psalms in the bible, Psalm 23 penned by King David, tells us about his experience in his walk with God, and what we can expect as we walk with our Lord:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me." Psalm 23:1-4

And so I say to myself, even if I lag behind, even if I fall to my feet, even if I dash my foot into a stone, I sure have someone to deliver me. I am sure that I will have someone who will pull me up, get me back to my feet, and lead me to my one true goal of spending eternity in Heaven.

Yes, it will not always be easy to make all the right choices. That there usually is no instant gratification in choosing a disciplined and a better life. That the narrow path to the best life is longer and not well paved. That there will always be thorns in the way — but because of His abiding Presence in our lives, we can and we will be able to go through life’s challenges and difficulties victoriously. Let us keep our focus on our goal of life with Jesus both here on Earth and eternity and the spiritual transformation we all wanted to experience, will make us into the person our God wants us to be.

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Philippians 3:12-21 and Psalm 23 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Are you walking with God? How do you keep yourself in the road with Him?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for inviting me to walk with you. Your abiding presence is all I need, as I know you only want what is best for me. Guide me and empower me to endure the potholes and thorns in this route we both are taking, so that I can be with you to your Kingdom in heaven. Amen.