Cornerstone

John 16:7-12 (8)

⁷But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt^[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; ¹⁰in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

¹²“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.”

After moving to Los Angeles my 92-year-old father wanted to learn how to get to the store, the bank, and other points of his interest.  I printed a map and marked where the locations he desired including the home address.  We took several trips to these places and I had him tell me which way to turn as he consulted the map.

Several weeks later I had to return to Kansas City on business.  During my absence he decided to go to the grocery store.  He made the trip safely and bought his groceries.  While in the store, however, he unknowingly became disoriented.  When he left the store he turned South instead of North.  He traveled through the city for quite a distance before he accepted the fact that he was in unfamiliar territory.  Stopping, he asked a FedEx employee directions.  The man showed him on the map how to return home.

Although we study God’s road map for our lives there may be times when circumstances in life cause us to lose our sense of direction.  When our spirit begins to warn us that we are getting farther away from home it is important that we consult our map and ask the Holy Spirit to once again help us to get on the right path.

Later we purchased a compass to put in our truck.  It constantly informs us what direction we are going.  In like manner, the ever present Spirit is an assurance that the believer need never stray from God’s presence.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Jeremiah 23:1-8 (6)

Loren D McBain writes in Leadership magazine (Vol 15 no 3) that in a NCAA cross-country championship 123 of the 128 runners missed a turn. Mike Delcavo did not miss the turn. Rather that continue alone with the other seven who now had a greater chance to win since the 123 would be disqualified in the end, he waved to the mistaken runners, urging them to follow him. He was only able to convince four other runners.

Later he was asked what the other runners thought about him taking a different route. He said, “They thought it was funny that I went the right way.”

Many today have taken the wrong way. We look for every opportunity to urge them to turn from their ways of unrighteousness but only a few respond. And yet, we who have read the rule book know that the race that is set before us leads to a great prize. Only those who follow in the footsteps of our Lord, the God of Righteousness, will make it to the end.

Yes, we who have chosen the holy way A…press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.@ Philippians 3:14 KJV

Dr. Gayle Woods