His Ways

Dean Burnetti

June 6

‭John 7:2-4 – [2] But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, [3] and Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! [4] You can't become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!"

The sarcasm read between the lines of this passage are fairly obvious. Here Jesus's half-brothers speak to Him with an air of condescension which is neither motivated by love or encouragement.

But in reading this passage, I see even more. It also reflects how many of us so often think of God as providing a plan in our life with an end but then walking by our choice what we think is the most expeditious, direct, and fast means to the end.

There is no doubt that God calls us each to some form of ministry with purpose and plan. But at the same time, the journey is not ours to decide. The real follower in Christ recognizes the direction and end, but the path is one of submission while following Christ and living in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, you may know God has called you to do a very specific thing in terms of end result. But you must also recognize every day there is the God journey that may not be the most direct and straight journey which He leads us on.

journey
Our ways are not always God's ways. Part of the plan and the end does not always coincide with what the journey is all about. In fact, the journey is just as much a part of the end result as any part of our experience in following Christ.

I'm not sure to what extent all of this makes sense to many, but it is a reality that God didn't call us to fulfill an end alone, but rather to follow and make the journey a large part of our quest to experience a real relationship with Christ.
Think on the apostle Paul's journeys. Not always in man's eye the best map.

But God doesn't lead you in best thought-out direction. He leads you on His divine journey planned for you before you were even born. Just follow.

Stay healthy and have a blessed day!

~Dean Burnetti