“Rough Roads

TITLE: “Rough Roads”
DATE:  September 17. 2019
TEXT:. Matthew 7:13-14  - ESV - 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
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So, what is tomorrow going to bring for you?

Will it be a good day filled with magnificent and unexpected blessings, or will it be a time  of sadness and sorrow. None of us, not even the smartest of us can give a 100% accurate forecast of our own future.

Nobody knows what ruts are on the road before us.

Years ago, after the Portuguese had withdrawn from Angola, the nation fell into tribal unrest and civil war. For many years  trucks sat beside the roads awaiting a few parts which would make them functional once again. Bridges became untrustworthy, and the roads were pocked with potholes.

During that time, a representative from a Christian charity organization, was on a fact-finding mission in that war-torn country. He was surprised to note that his driver made absolutely no attempt to miss the deep holes and ruts that are so common.

On the contrary, it seemed, given a chance, the man tried to hit those axle-breakers.

When they did come across a stretch of road that had been repaired, the driver almost always headed for the side of the road. Curiosity finally got the best of the visitor and he asked his driver why he was avoiding those patches of improved road.

The reply was: “I avoid the smooth spots, because that’s where the land mines are."

A casual spectator, looking at the life of Simon Peter would soon discover that when the disciple tried to hit the ‘smooth spots’ of life, his faith failed and he ran right into the devil’s land mines.’

• When Peter encouraged Jesus not to take the easy road and not go to Jerusalem, he stepped on a land mine.
• When he tried to take the smooth road of anonymity in the High Priest’s courtyard, he hit a land mine.

In contrast to Peter, our Savior never took the smooth road. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He didn’t take the smooth road. Instead, He carried our sins and sorrows. At His trials, He could have taken the smooth road and defended Himself, but He didn’t. On the cross, He could have taken the smooth road and stepped down. Instead, Jesus chose to die so that we might have life. An examination of your life may show that when you went on the smooth route, you also ended up stepping on a spiritual land mine.

It is a wonderful thing that the Lord can, when we hit such  problems, take us past them. It is also a wonderful thing that He can then empower us to help others.  But it is the most wonderful thing of all if we, by the Spirit’s power, do what glorifies the Lord and avoid the land mines of the devil.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, help me survive the smooth road where the devil has planted his land mines. When I, through my own weakness, trigger one, take me through, patch me up, and let me be Your witness to others. In Your Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html