Focus Scripture – Matthew 16:3
My husband and I were driving back from an outing the other day. Allured by the balmy day and the scenery to the west of us, we decided to take an alternate route. After some time, my husband decided that we were lost.
“No, we are not lost,” I responded. “We can’t be because somebody blazed this trail and set up signposts for us to follow. Now, all we need to do is slow down and pay attention.” Instead of absent-mindedly wandering down streets and backtracking, we began to notice when we had passed a certain way before. We knew that if we went down that road again, we would arrive at a dead end. We remembered that if we made a right turn at a particular intersection, we would reach a waterfront. If we turned left at that juncture, we would head into open highway that would lead us to our destination. So we directed our attention to the markings and the memories we accumulated on our journey. Before long, with calmness and confidence, we found our way home.
I submit to you that these same insights can be used to guide us through life in general. There is nothing new under the sun. Somebody has already blazed the trail. Somebody has already pioneered the way. Somebody has already lived through what we are experiencing, suffered through what we’re feeling, and engaged the enemy in the very same battles we are fighting. Our forebears – often brave and valiant warriors – have already been able to perceive the Truth beneath the truth. And they have stored it up in a variety of warehouses so that it can be passed along from one generation to the next. Now, all we have to do is slow down and pay attention if we are to find our way home.