Following Jesus - The Crosswalk Devotional - April 27
Following Jesus
By Alexis A. Goring
Bible Reading:
“I am but a pilgrim here on earth: how I need a map—and your commands are my chart and guide. I long for your instructions more than I can tell.”— Psalm 119:19-20 TLB
It was a dark Saturday night when I left my house, settled into the driver’s seat of my car, gathered my printed map with directions to my destination, and pulled out of my driveway onto the road.
I was driving to a friend’s birthday party. According to my map, it was about an hour and a half drive from my house to their apartment in another state. I hadn’t visited their home state before or spent time in their abode. But I wasn’t worried…until I got lost in their state. Nothing looked familiar to me. I tried talking to a taxi driver at a stoplight, but he couldn’t help me. At one point, I ended up on the wrong side of the road, but by a miracle of God, I returned to the right side without being in an accident. Somehow, I ended up in the parking lot of a coffee shop. It was then that I called my friend and said I was lost.
She sent her brother to meet me in the parking lot of the coffee shop. I then followed his car to their apartment. I wished her a happy birthday and spent time with the other guests, but when our mutual friend (we’ll call her Tiana) prepared to leave, I asked her if I could follow her home since we lived near each other in the same state. She agreed, and we left the party together.
From the moment I settled into my car, I aligned my vehicle directly behind Tiana’s car; I zeroed in on her car’s features and memorized the license plate so I 2would know who I was following. Then I drove close behind her car, never taking my eyes off it. I didn’t let any other car get in between me and the car; I followed closely. I matched Tiana’s driving pace and drove like my life depended on it because it did. I was in unfamiliar territory, far from home, but I knew I would get to my destination if I stayed close to the driver, who knew the way home.
This experience happened when I did not have GPS, and the printed map I had failed me. But gratefully, God led me to follow this friend back into familiar territory in my home state, and I arrived safely to my house that night. I don’t want to think about what could have happened if I hadn’t left the party early so I could follow a trusted guide (Tiana in this case) home. But I am grateful God saw me through that ordeal and kept me safe on the road.
All of this makes me think about a spiritual lesson. The Bible says that we, as believers in God, are pilgrims passing through this world (1 Chronicles 29:15). Our final destination is Heaven, and our trusted guide is Jesus Christ. He wants us to follow Him through the twists and turns as we journey through this world, and He promises to help us arrive safely at our ultimate destination.
The Bible says that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, nor can we ever imagine what God has planned for us in Heaven (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). It’s going to be glorious and worth the wait. God loves us so much. That is why He gave us His Son as Savior, our travel guide (John 3:16-17). Just like I followed my friend Tiana closely on the road to ensure I arrived home safely, Jesus wants us to follow Him closely. Just like I made sure nobody would get in between me and my friend whose car I was following, Jesus wants us not to let anyone or anything get in between us and Him.
We need to prioritize our relationship with Christ by spending quiet time with Him in Bible study and prayer. We need to praise Him for all He does for us and worship Him (playing Christian/Gospel music helps and sets the atmosphere for an encounter with Jesus). We can trust Him to guide us and send His Angels to protect us as we travel through this dangerous world. The Bible says that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). While this world is not safe, Jesus Christ is our safe place, available to us everywhere. He will keep us safe when we seek refuge in Him (Psalm 91).
In closing, I’d like for you to listen to three songs that support my devotional message today. See the songs listed below.
Song of Reflection #1: “Trust in God” by Elevation Worship.
Song of Reflection #2: “I Will Go” by Steve Green.
Song of Reflection #3: “I Will Follow” by Chris Tomlin.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
How does it feel to know that we have a Heavenly Guide who we can trust to help us navigate this life on Earth and arrive safely in our Forever Home (Heaven)?
Further Reading:
Proverbs 3:5-6
Psalm 32:8
Isaiah 58:11
Psalm 25:9-10
Psalm 119:105
Photo Credit: Getty/Anastasiia-Stiahailo
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Related Resource: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Your Emotions
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