Friday, October 05, 2007

STOP SIGNS

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 2:13

(After the Magi had left.) When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

STOP SIGNS

I love back roads and shortcuts. At one intersection, of a local back road, there are at least seven stop signs. Now that got me to thinking about all the stop signs Jesus ran into.

It seems like everywhere Jesus turned, someone was putting up a stop sign. Herod put one up and Jesus’ family had to escape to Egypt. The spirit led Jesus into the desert and that ole devil put up three stop signs.

The disciples even put up a few. They questioned. They tried to stop the children. They doubted when Jesus walked on water. They slept while he prayed.

Those in his hometown put up a big stop sign when they would not even listen to him.

The priests put up a stop sign when they bought his betrayal. Pilate provided the nails for the final stop sign.

The miracle is that there is no sign or mortal action big enough to stop Jesus. He knew what road he was on. He knew what he had to do. He knew he wanted to carry out the will of “the Father.”

Life and the world we live in have many stop signs that try to keep us from traveling the road we should. We have to be careful what we watch on TV or at the movies. So many images to lead us astray. We have to be careful what friends we choose to hang out with. We have to be careful whom we pick for a mate. The people we are around influence our decisions and our actions.

When life puts stop signs on your road, remember the “way of the Father.” Do not allow stop signs to make you turn off the path God has set for you.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

What stop signs do you see along your road through life? Do you have the strength to stay on the road and not turn down the wrong path? Do you know how to get back on the road when you are weak?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Jesus, Thank you for staying on the path God prepared for you. You had the strength to say no to the devil. Three times, you said no. Be beside me always, but be extra strong when I need to call on you when I need to say no. Keep my eyes upward and my footsteps straight. Dear Jesus I will work very hard not to be a stop sign in another's life. Today I also pray that I do not put stop signs in front of you. Allow me to ask you questions and then to trust your answers and to not doubt. Let me always celebrate the miracle of your life, your death and your resurrection. ..………………………………… Amen

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