A youth ministry initiative by RBC Ministries
where you can find devotionals and resources for youth.
A youth ministry initiative by RBC Ministries
where you can find devotionals and resources for youth.
November 2, 2009
Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it (v.16).
READ: Jeremiah 6:16-19
If you speak Italian, you know that “Monaco di Baviera” means Munich. If not, it’s easy to see how two women on a road trip confused Monaco with Munich. They started in northern Italy, intending to drive south to Monaco, but followed signs that took them north to Germany instead!
Being “directionally challenged” myself, I can sympathize with these wrongly directed women. Driving the wrong way on a trip is no fun, but it’s much worse to take a detour from God’s will.
The prophet Jeremiah had to guide the nation of Israel back from a place where “their rebellion [was] great, and their sins [were] many” (Jeremiah 5:6). Perhaps, like Israel, you’ve refused God’s direction and need to make a U-turn to conform with His will.
When you don’t know which road to take, Jeremiah advises, “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way” (Jeremiah 6:16). In other words, take a breather and get some wise advice from other Christians.
Godly input is only as effective as our willingness to act upon it. That’s why Jeremiah said, “Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.” Walking God’s way means breaking off our friendship with the world and allowing God to change the way we think. “Then [we] will learn to know God’s will for [us], which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
Like Israel, our confusion about God’s direction may be the “fruit of [our] own schemes” (Jeremiah 6:19) because we refuse to listen to God and we reject His Word. Fortunately, U-turns are permitted! When we stop and seek His will in all we do, “He will show [us] which path to take” (Proverbs 3:6).
—Jennifer Benson Schuldt
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
Filed under Devotional, Our Daily Journey and tagged with Christian Living, daily devotional, decisions/choices, Faith, fellowship with God, Forgiveness, Holiness, obedience, Sin.
